| Description |
Drug interactions are a major factor in the etiology of adverse drug reactions. Because patients often take more than one medication, the possibility of a patient experiencing an adverse drug interaction is of concern. Numerous drug interactions caused by cimetidine, a potent H2 receptor antagonist, have been documented in humans. Cimetidine has been shown to decrease the elimination of a variety of drugs including, antiprrine, aminopyrine, chlordiazepoxide, diazepam, warfarin, theophylline, quinidine, carbamazepine, and phenytoin. All of the above mentioned drugs are eliminated after metabolism by mixed function oxidases in the liver, suggesting that cimetidine inhibits the action of the cytochrome P-450 oxidative enzymes. Assuming that the hydroxylation of piroxicam is cytochrome P-450 mediated, the addition of cimetidine to the therapeutic regimen of a patient on piroxicam could result in a decrease in piroxicam elimination and prolongation of its effect. Prolongation of the antiprostaglandin effect is of clinical concern because it may increase the hazard of renal dysfunction in patients at risk. The purpose of this study was to determine if serum concentrations of piroxicam following a single oral dose are altered by previous and concurrent administration of cimetidine. |
