Cimetidine-Induced Impotence and Breast Changes in Patients with Gastric Hypersecretory States

Cimetidine has been shown to be an effective drug for healing peptic ulcers and for preventing their recurrence.1 In most clinical trials cimetidine has been associated with few side effects of clinical importance. Early toxicologic studies with cimetidine, however, showed a decrease in the weight of the prostate and seminal vesicles in rats and dogs,2 , 3 suggesting the presence of antiandrogen activity. Later studies demonstrated that cimetidine could inhibit the binding of dihydrotestosterone to androgen receptors in the prostates of rats and the kidneys of mice.3 4 5 6 Subsequently, the occurrence of gynecomastia,7 8 9 10 especially in pathologic hypersecretory states,7 , 11 , 12 and occasional cases of impotence . . .