The effect of cimetidine on ethanol concentrations in fasting women and men after two different doses of alcohol.
BACKGROUND
Serum ethanol concentrations may become higher when alcohol is consumed during treatment with histamine receptor antagonists, especially if ethanol is ingested postprandially. Only a few studies have investigated fasting subjects, and women have only been investigated sporadically.


METHODS
The present study compared serum ethanol concentrations after a 4-h fast followed by a low (0.15 g/kg) and a high (0.45 g/kg) dose of ethanol, on two separate occasions in six women and six men. The study was carried out before and after treatment with 400 mg cimetidine twice daily.


RESULTS
Cimetidine administration did not change the area under the concentration-time curve or the maximal serum ethanol concentration in either women or men, irrespective of ethanol dose. Ethanol elimination rate was unchanged by cimetidine.


CONCLUSIONS
Cimetidine does not influence the ethanol concentration-time curve when ethanol is ingested on an empty stomach.
Clemmesen
J O
JO
Dept. of Medicine F, University Hospital, Gentofte, Denmark.
Ott
P
P
Sestoft
L
L
D000328:Adult; D019540:Area Under Curve; D002927:Cimetidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D005215:Fasting; D005260:Female; D006635:Histamine H2 Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male
D006635:Histamine H2 Antagonists; D000431:Ethanol; D002927:Cimetidine