BIOAVAILABILITY OF CIMETIDINE IN MAN

Abstract The bioavailability of parenteral cimetidine was tested in 12 volunteers in a balanced three-way crossover study. Blood levels and urinary excretion were compared after intramuscular and intravenous injection and oral administration of 300 mg of cimetidine. The results indicated that the intramuscular and intravenous routes are virtually interchangeable for parenteral cimetidine, and that the oral liquid, although exhibiting a reduced area under the blood level curve as compared with the parenteral doses, nevertheless demonstrated equivalence with respect to the time the blood level remained above 0.5 μg per ml. The 300-mg cimetidine tablet formulation was found in another group of 12 volunteers to be bioequivalent to a 300-mg dose of oral liquid.