cimetidine vs metformin/pioglitazone

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Side-by-side comparison of cimetidine and metformin/pioglitazone. 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

( 7.3 ) Drugs that reduce metformin clearance (such as ranolazine, vandetanib, dolutegravir, and cimetidine), may increase the accumulation of metformin. 7.4 Drugs that Reduce Metformin Clearance 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...

Drug Class
cimetidine H2 Receptor Antagonist
metformin/pioglitazone Biguanide / TZD Combination
Type
cimetidine Over-the-Counter
metformin/pioglitazone Prescription
Summary
cimetidine

Cimetidine (Tagamet) reduces stomach acid. It is used to treat ulcers, heartburn, and other conditions where too much acid is produced.

metformin/pioglitazone

Actoplus Met is a drug that combines two medicines to help control blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes. It should be used with diet and exercise.

What It Treats
cimetidine

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.

metformin/pioglitazone

Actoplus Met helps lower blood sugar in adults who have type 2 diabetes. You should also follow a diet and exercise plan while taking this medicine. Actoplus Met is not for people with type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis.

How It Works
cimetidine

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.

metformin/pioglitazone

Actoplus Met contains pioglitazone and metformin. Pioglitazone makes your body more sensitive to insulin. Metformin reduces the amount of sugar your liver releases into your blood.

Common Side Effects
cimetidine
  • Headache
  • Dizziness
  • Diarrhea
metformin/pioglitazone
  • Upper respiratory infection
  • Swelling
  • Diarrhea
  • Headache
  • Weight gain
FAERS Reports
cimetidine
  • Chronic Kidney Disease 1,264
  • Acute Kidney Injury 710
  • Renal Failure 694
  • Nausea 681
  • Fatigue 598
metformin/pioglitazone
  • Feeling sick to your stomach 21,946
  • Loose or watery stools 21,887
  • High blood sugar 18,329
  • Feeling tired 17,252
  • Sudden kidney damage 16,440
Serious Warnings
cimetidine

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/pioglitazone

Actoplus Met can cause or worsen heart failure in some people. Watch for signs like rapid weight gain, shortness of breath, and swelling. This medicine can also cause a rare but serious condition called lactic acidosis. Get medical help right away if you have symptoms like feeling very weak, muscle pain, trouble breathing, or stomach pain.

Pregnancy
cimetidine

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.

metformin/pioglitazone

Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if Actoplus Met will harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

Also Compare, Nearby Drugs

How to Read This cimetidine vs metformin/pioglitazone Comparison

cimetidine is classified in the H2 Receptor Antagonist drug class, while metformin/pioglitazone sits within the Biguanide / TZD 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 3,947 submissions while metformin/pioglitazone 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 makes it harder for your kidneys to clear metformin out of your blood. this causes the medicine to accumulate in your body, which can lead to a serious side effect called lactic acidosis.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.

A table cannot represent individual circumstances. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This registry does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions for cimetidine or metformin/pioglitazone.

Registry boundary: This comparison displays source-record fields and does not provide individualized medical direction.