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Cimetidine pharmacokinetics and dosage requirements in children

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Abstract

The pharmacokinetics of cimetidine (10 mg/kg) were investigated in 11 children following an oral dose and in 9 children following an intravenous dose. The children ranged in age from 4–13 years and were undergoing radiology for upper gastrointestinal tract pain. Compared with a group of adults, the children had a higher total body clearance (11.6±3.4 versus 7.0±2.5 ml/min per kg; P<0.005), a larger apparent volume of distribution (1.24±0.40 versus 0.80±0.24 l/kg; P<0.005) and a shorter elimination half-life (83±26 versus 122±16 min; P<0.001) of cimetidine. Renal clearance in children comprised 70% of total body clearance, more than double that of adults (9.0±1.9 versus 4.2±2.1 ml/min per kg; P<0.001). The area under the cimetidine plasma concentration: time curve after the oral dose was on average 42% in children compared with adults. The mechanism for the increased elimination of cimetidine in children is suggested to be an increase in the renal tubular secretory transport of cimetidine in the kidney. A statistically significant negative correlatio was observed between age and cimetidine renal clearance. A cimetidine dosage regimen of approximately 30 mg/kg per day in three to four divided doses would be an appropriate dose in children.

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Abbreviations

AUC:

area under the cimetidine blood concentration: time curve

Vss :

volume of distribution

ClT :

total systemic clearance

Clr :

renal clearance

Clnr :

non-renal clearance

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Author notes

  1. A. Somogyi

    Present address: Department of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology, University of Adelaide, G.P.O. Box 498, 5001, Adelaide, Australia

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, University of Bonn, Federal Republic of Germany

    A. Somogyi & R. Gugler

  2. Department of Paediatrics, University of Bonn, Federal Republic of Germany

    M. Becker

Authors
  1. A. Somogyi
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  2. M. Becker
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  3. R. Gugler
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Somogyi, A., Becker, M. & Gugler, R. Cimetidine pharmacokinetics and dosage requirements in children. Eur J Pediatr 144, 72–76 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00491931

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00491931

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