Drug interactions
Chlordiazepoxide + Cimetidine
Severity: Moderate
Chlordiazepoxide and Cimetidine: moderate interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Cimetidine slows clearance of chlordiazepoxide, increasing and prolonging its sedative effect. Older patients and those with liver disease are at greater risk of oversedation and psychomotor impairment.
What this interaction means in plain words
Chlordiazepoxide and Cimetidine can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.
Chlordiazepoxide belongs to Central Nervous System; Cimetidine belongs to Gastrointestinal Tract.
Why it happens
Cimetidine inhibits hepatic oxidative metabolism of chlordiazepoxide.
What to do
Monitor sedation and consider a lower benzodiazepine dose. Alternatively use famotidine or switch to lorazepam or oxazepam.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Should I take them at different times of day?
- Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
- Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?
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Other interactions of Cimetidine
- Cimetidine + Dofetilide Contraindicated
- Cimetidine + Fezolinetant Contraindicated
- Alfentanil + Cimetidine Major
- Atazanavir + Cimetidine Major
- Carmustine + Cimetidine Major
- Cimetidine + Citalopram Major
Other interactions of Chlordiazepoxide
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Chlordiazepoxide with Cimetidine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Chlordiazepoxide and Cimetidine can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. Cimetidine slows clearance of chlordiazepoxide, increasing and prolonging its sedative effect. Older patients and those with liver disease are at greater risk of oversedation and psychomotor impairment.
How serious is the interaction between Chlordiazepoxide and Cimetidine?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Monitor sedation and consider a lower benzodiazepine dose. Alternatively use famotidine or switch to lorazepam or oxazepam.
What other medicines interact with Cimetidine?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Cimetidine with, for example, Dofetilide, Fezolinetant, Alfentanil. The full list is on the Cimetidine page.
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