cimetidine vs metformin/empagliflozin
Side-by-side comparison of cimetidine and metformin/empagliflozin. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
moderate Known Drug Interaction
Drugs that Reduce Metformin Clearance Clinical Impact Concomitant use of drugs that interfere with common renal tubular transport systems involved in the renal elimination of metformin (e.g., organic cationic transporter-2 [OCT2] / multidrug and toxin extrusion [MATE] inhibitors such as ranolazine, vandetanib, dolutegravir, and cimetidine) could increase systemic exposure to metformin and may increase the risk for lactic acidosis [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] .
Recommendation: Your doctor should monitor you for side effects and may consider changing your dose.
Tagamet
Synjardy
Cimetidine (Tagamet) reduces stomach acid. It is used to treat ulcers, heartburn, and other conditions where too much acid is produced.
Synjardy is a drug that combines empagliflozin and metformin. It helps lower blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes, along with diet and exercise.
Cimetidine treats active duodenal ulcers for short periods. It can also be used long-term at a lower dose to prevent ulcers from returning. This medicine also treats active benign gastric ulcers for a short time. Additionally, it can help with erosive gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which damages the esophagus.
Synjardy is used to treat type 2 diabetes in adults and children 10 years and older. It helps control blood sugar levels when used with diet and exercise. Empagliflozin, one of the drugs in Synjardy, can also lower the risk of heart-related death in adults with heart disease. It can also lower the risk of heart failure and kidney problems in adults with heart failure or chronic kidney disease.
Cimetidine is an H2 receptor antagonist. This means it blocks histamine from attaching to certain cells in your stomach. By blocking histamine, cimetidine reduces the amount of acid your stomach makes.
Synjardy contains two medicines that work in different ways. Empagliflozin helps your kidneys remove sugar from your blood through urine. Metformin lowers the amount of sugar your liver makes and helps your body use insulin better.
- • Headache
- • Dizziness
- • Diarrhea
- • Urinary tract infections
- • Yeast infections of the vagina
- • Diarrhea
- • Nausea
- • Vomiting
- Long-term kidney disease 1,264
- Sudden kidney damage 710
- Kidney failure 694
- Feeling sick to your stomach 681
- Feeling tired 599
- Feeling sick to your stomach 21,946
- Loose or watery stools 21,887
- High blood sugar 18,329
- Feeling tired 17,252
- Sudden damage to the kidneys 16,440
Reversible confusional states (like mental confusion, agitation, or hallucinations) have been reported, mostly in severely ill patients. These usually appear within 2-3 days of starting treatment and clear up within 3-4 days of stopping the drug.
Metformin can cause a serious side effect called lactic acidosis. This is a buildup of lactic acid in your blood. It can be life-threatening. Get medical help right away if you have symptoms like feeling very weak, muscle pain, trouble breathing, stomach pain, dizziness, or a slow or irregular heartbeat.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. The effects of cimetidine during pregnancy are not fully known. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking cimetidine while breastfeeding.
Synjardy may harm your unborn baby, especially during the second and third trimesters. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not recommended to breastfeed while taking Synjardy.
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How to Read This cimetidine vs metformin/empagliflozin Comparison
cimetidine is classified in the H2 Receptor Antagonist drug class, while metformin/empagliflozin sits within the Biguanide / SGLT2 Combination class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are split between OTC and prescription status, which affects access and supervision.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, cimetidine has 3,948 submissions while metformin/empagliflozin has 95,854. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known moderate interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to cimetidine interferes with the way your kidneys get rid of metformin, which can cause the drug to stay in your body longer. this increases the chance of developing a serious condition called lactic acidosis.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between cimetidine and metformin/empagliflozin - always consult your physician or pharmacist first.
Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.