Cimetidine Tablet while Breastfeeding

Modern medicine has evolved so much so that sooner or later every breastfeeding mother needs to take it in one form or other. Medication that is present in mothers blood will transfer into her breast milk to some extent. Most drugs do so at low levels and pose no real risk to infants but then there are some exceptions. In This post will discuss whether Cimetidine Tablet is safe in breast-feeding or not.

Cimetidine tablets are indicated in: 1) Short-term treatment of active duodenal ulcer. Most patients heal within 4 weeks and there is rarely reason to use cimetidine at full dosage for longer than 6 to 8 weeks (see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION, Duodenal Ulcer). Concomitant antacids should be given as needed for relief of pain. However, simultaneous administration of oral cimetidine and antacids is not recommended, since antacids have been reported to interfere with the absorption of oral cimetidine. 2) Maintenance therapy for duodenal ulcer patients at reduced dosage after healing of active ulcer. Patients have been maintained on continued treatment with cimetidine 400 mg at bedtime for periods of up to five years. 3) Short-term treatment of active benign gastric ulcer. There is no information concerning usefulness of treatment periods of longer than eight weeks. 4) Erosive gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Erosive esophagitis diagnosed by endoscopy. Treatment is indicated for twelve weeks for healing of lesions and control of symptoms. The use of cimetidine beyond twelve weeks has not been established (see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION, GERD). 5) The treatment of pathological hypersecretory conditions (i.e., Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome, systemic mastocytosis, multiple endocrine adenomas).

Statement of Manufacturer/Labeler about breastfeeding usage
Nursing Mothers Cimetidine is secreted in human milk and, as a general rule, nursing should not be undertaken while a patient is on a drug.