Drug interactions
Cimetidine + Meperidine
Severity: Moderate
Cimetidine and Meperidine: 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 reduces the hepatic metabolism of meperidine, raising its concentrations and potentially increasing sedation and respiratory depression. Normeperidine formation may also be altered.
What this interaction means in plain words
Cimetidine and Meperidine 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 belongs to Gastrointestinal Tract; Meperidine belongs to Musculoskeletal.
Why it happens
Cimetidine inhibits CYP-mediated N-demethylation of meperidine (CYP2B6, CYP3A4, CYP2C19).
What to do
Monitor for sedation and respiratory depression and reduce the meperidine dose if needed; consider famotidine.
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 Meperidine
- Alvimopan + Meperidine Contraindicated
- Isocarboxazid + Meperidine Contraindicated
- Meperidine + Methylene blue Contraindicated
- Meperidine + Olanzapine / samidorphan Contraindicated
- Meperidine + Phenelzine Contraindicated
- Meperidine + Procarbazine Contraindicated
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Cimetidine with Meperidine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Cimetidine and Meperidine 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 reduces the hepatic metabolism of meperidine, raising its concentrations and potentially increasing sedation and respiratory depression. Normeperidine formation may also be altered.
How serious is the interaction between Cimetidine and Meperidine?
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 for sedation and respiratory depression and reduce the meperidine dose if needed; consider famotidine.
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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