Prescription and over-the-counter medicine
Cimetidine Brand names: Tagamet
Cimetidine (Tagamet) is a prescription and over-the-counter medicine with an FDA approval on record since 1977. FDA's NDC Directory lists it from 18 generic labelers, and pharmacies paid $0.236 per cimetidine 300 mg tablet in the October 7, 2026 NADAC survey.
- Generic listed
Check it at the source: the cimetidine FDA label on DailyMed (effective July 15, 2026, Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc.); the NDA 17939 record on Drugs@FDA; every cimetidine label on DailyMed.
Highlights of the record
FDA label of July 15, 2026; NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA and Orange Book, October 8, 2026; NADAC October 7, 2026
Used for
From the label: indications and usageCimetidine tablets are indicated in: 1.
Forms and strengths
- 200 mg
- 300 mg
- 400 mg
- 800 mg
- 300 mg/5ml
Film-coated tablet; solution; tablet.
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- August 16, 1977 Tagamet, Glaxosmithkline; Drugs@FDA’s file, where older or withdrawn approvals can be missing
- Generic approvals
- 51 first May 17, 1994; 9 with a marketed status in Drugs@FDA
- Labelers listed (NDC)
- 20 of which 18 under generic applications, 2 under brand applications, repackagers included
Supply and safety
- Pharmacy cost (NADAC)
- $0.236 per tablet Cimetidine 300 mg tablet
- Shortage (FDA)
- No current entry
- Recalls by its makers (FDA)
- 1 since 2021 0 Class I among all firms' recalls; latest July 29, 2021; 1 more by firms not listed as its makers
- FAERS reports
- 9,664 through July 30, 2026
What is cimetidine used for?
From the label: indications and usageCimetidine 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 tablets 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 cimetidine tablets and antacids is not recommended, since antacids have been reported to interfere with the absorption of cimetidine. 2. Maintenance therapy for duodenal ulcer patients at reduced dosage after healing of active ulcer. […]
Conditions named in the indications of cimetidine's FDA labels, with every medicine labeled for each:
FDA pharmacologic class: Histamine-2 Receptor Antagonist.
Source: FDA drug label (Cimetidine), Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc., effective July 15, 2026 (SPL set 06c0a509-026f-44e0-9975-a94a8de51d43), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
Is there a generic for cimetidine (Tagamet)?
The FDA approved the first generic cimetidine on May 17, 1994. 51 generic applications are approved; 9 of them carry a current (not discontinued) marketing status in Drugs@FDA; that status is not evidence that the generic is on sale.
FDA's NDC Directory lists cimetidine from 18 labelers under a generic (ANDA) application and from 2 brand labelers. A listing means the company has registered the product for sale; it does not show that every pharmacy stocks it.
- 1977 earliest approval on file
- 1994 first generic approved
- red ticks recalls
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory and the Orange Book (openFDA bulk files, October 8, 2026)
What do pharmacies pay for cimetidine (Tagamet)?
In CMS's NADAC survey of October 7, 2026, pharmacies paid $0.236 per Cimetidine 300 mg tablet, down 13% from $0.270 on October 8, 2025. The chart's scale runs from the lowest to the highest price shown, not from zero. NADAC is what retail pharmacies paid their wholesalers, per unit, in CMS's monthly survey; what a patient pays depends on insurance and the pharmacy.
- Cimetidine 300 mg tablet (generic)
| Strength and form | Brand or generic | Pharmacy cost | 30 tablets, or one pen or vial | 12-month change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cimetidine 200 mg tablet | Generic | $0.204 per tablet | $6.13 | -16% |
| Cimetidine 300 mg tablet | Generic | $0.236 per tablet | $7.08 | -13% |
| Cimetidine 300 mg/5 mL solution | Generic | $0.600 per mL | n/a | +5% |
| Cimetidine 400 mg tablet | Generic | $0.319 per tablet | $9.58 | -14% |
| Cimetidine 800 mg tablet | Generic | $0.721 per tablet | $21.62 | -17% |
Source: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC) survey, October 7, 2026: what retail pharmacies paid per unit; not a counter price
Has cimetidine been recalled?
The FDA's Enforcement Report lists 2 recalls naming cimetidine since 2021: 0 Class I (the most serious), 2 Class II, 0 Class III; 1 still ongoing. 1 of them is by a firm that FDA's NDC Directory does not list as a maker of cimetidine and that holds no application for it in Drugs@FDA, such as compounding pharmacies or bulk-ingredient suppliers; the recall notice names the product recalled. A recall names products and lots, not every product of the medicine.
| Started | Class | Company | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 26, 2023 | Class II | Akorn, Inc. not a listed maker | CGMP Deviations: Firm went out of business and could no longer continue stability studies. |
| July 29, 2021 | Class II | PAI Holdings, LLC. dba Pharmaceutical Associates Inc | Lack of CGMP: This recall is being carried out due to potential for carry over of Senna Syrup. |
Source: FDA Enforcement Report (drug recalls) via openFDA, through October 8, 2026
What does the cimetidine label say about other medicines?
The cimetidine label names 10 other medicines in its interaction, contraindication or warning sections. The labels of 44 other medicines name cimetidine. The sentences are the labels' own; a label lists what its studies and reports found, not every interaction.
| Medicine named | Section | What the label says |
|---|---|---|
| Chlordiazepoxide | drug interactions | Drug Interactions Cimetidine tablets, apparently through an effect on certain microsomal enzyme systems, has been reported to reduce the hepatic metabolism of warfarin-type anticoagulants, phenytoin, propranolol, nifedipine, chlordiazepoxide, diazepam, certain tricyclic antidepressants, lidocaine, theophylline, and … |
| Diazepam | drug interactions | Drug Interactions Cimetidine tablets, apparently through an effect on certain microsomal enzyme systems, has been reported to reduce the hepatic metabolism of warfarin-type anticoagulants, phenytoin, propranolol, nifedipine, chlordiazepoxide, diazepam, certain tricyclic antidepressants, lidocaine, theophylline, and … |
| Ketoconazole | drug interactions | Alteration of pH may affect absorption of certain drugs (e.g., ketoconazole). |
| Lidocaine | drug interactions | … anticoagulants, phenytoin, propranolol, nifedipine, chlordiazepoxide, diazepam, certain tricyclic antidepressants, lidocaine, theophylline, and metronidazole, thereby delaying elimination and increasing blood levels of these drugs. |
| Metronidazole | drug interactions | … propranolol, nifedipine, chlordiazepoxide, diazepam, certain tricyclic antidepressants, lidocaine, theophylline, and metronidazole, thereby delaying elimination and increasing blood levels of these drugs. |
| Nifedipine | drug interactions | Drug Interactions Cimetidine tablets, apparently through an effect on certain microsomal enzyme systems, has been reported to reduce the hepatic metabolism of warfarin-type anticoagulants, phenytoin, propranolol, nifedipine, chlordiazepoxide, diazepam, certain tricyclic antidepressants, lidocaine, theophylline, and … |
| Phenytoin | drug interactions | Drug Interactions Cimetidine tablets, apparently through an effect on certain microsomal enzyme systems, has been reported to reduce the hepatic metabolism of warfarin-type anticoagulants, phenytoin, propranolol, nifedipine, chlordiazepoxide, diazepam, certain tricyclic antidepressants, lidocaine, theophylline, and … |
| Propranolol | drug interactions | Drug Interactions Cimetidine tablets, apparently through an effect on certain microsomal enzyme systems, has been reported to reduce the hepatic metabolism of warfarin-type anticoagulants, phenytoin, propranolol, nifedipine, chlordiazepoxide, diazepam, certain tricyclic antidepressants, lidocaine, theophylline, and … |
| Theophylline | drug interactions | … phenytoin, propranolol, nifedipine, chlordiazepoxide, diazepam, certain tricyclic antidepressants, lidocaine, theophylline, and metronidazole, thereby delaying elimination and increasing blood levels of these drugs. |
| Warfarin | drug interactions | Clinically significant effects have been reported with the warfarin anticoagulants; therefore, close monitoring of prothrombin time is recommended, and adjustment of the anticoagulant dose may be necessary when cimetidine tablets are administered concomitantly. |
Other labels that name cimetidine
- Albendazole
- Alendronate and cholecalciferol
- Alosetron
- Aminophylline
- Amiodarone
- Amitriptyline
- Buspirone
- Caffeine
- Carbamazepine
- Carmustine
- Carvedilol
- Clomipramine
- Clozapine
- Dalfampridine
- Desipramine
- Desloratadine
- Diltiazem
- Dofetilide
- Doxazosin
- Doxepin
- Epirubicin
- Felodipine
- Fesoterodine
- Flibanserin
- Fluvastatin
- Fosamprenavir
- Gabapentin
- Hydroxychloroquine
- Imipramine
- Labetalol
- Leflunomide
- Meperidine
- Metformin
- Mexiletine
- Midazolam
- Mirtazapine
- Morphine
- Naloxegol
- Nicardipine
- Nisoldipine
- Nortriptyline
- Oxymorphone
- Paroxetine
- Pentoxifylline
- Posaconazole
- Pramipexole
- Praziquantel
- Propafenone
- Protriptyline
- Quinidine
- Rilpivirine
- Risperidone
- Roflumilast
- Sirolimus
- Sucralfate
- Tacrolimus
- Tamsulosin
- Terbinafine
- Teriflunomide
- Thalidomide
- Tinidazole
- Tizanidine
- Trandolapril
- Triazolam
- Trimipramine
- Valproic acid
- Zaleplon
Source: FDA drug label (Cimetidine), Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc., effective July 15, 2026 (SPL set 06c0a509-026f-44e0-9975-a94a8de51d43), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
What do FAERS reports show for cimetidine?
The FDA Adverse Event Reporting System holds 9,664 reports that list cimetidine among the medicines taken, through July 30, 2026, each a report of something that happened, not proof the medicine caused it; 1,206 are coded as a death and 3,539 as a hospital stay. Counts follow how widely a medicine is used and watched, and they are not a measure of how risky it is.
Reports received each year
The most reported reactions
Source: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) via openFDA, reports through July 30, 2026
What else is labeled for the same conditions as cimetidine?
21 other medicines are given the same way (oral) and in the same FDA class as cimetidine or labeled mainly for the same use (acid reflux and ulcers), the same class first. Acid reflux and ulcers lists all 27 medicines labeled for it, by any route. The first 8 are below. They are listed as records, not as substitutes: whether one can replace another is a prescriber's decision.
| Medicine | Shared indication | Generic labelers (oral) | Pharmacy cost | Shortage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Famotidine | Acid reflux and ulcers | 144 labelers | $0.0289 per tablet 20 mg tablet | No current entry |
| Calcium carbonate and famotidine and magnesium hydroxide | Acid reflux and ulcers | 20 labelers | $0.258 per tablet Acid reducer complete tablet chewable | No current entry |
| Ranitidine | Acid reflux and ulcers | 8 labelers | n/a | No current entry |
| Nizatidine | Acid reflux and ulcers | 4 labelers | $0.804 per capsule 150 mg capsule | No current entry |
| Calcium carbonate | Acid reflux and ulcers | none listed | $0.0315 per tablet 750 mg tablet chewable | No current entry |
| Omeprazole | Acid reflux and ulcers | 121 labelers | $0.0295 per capsule 20 mg capsule | A presentation being discontinued |
| Esomeprazole | Acid reflux and ulcers | 117 labelers | $0.145 per capsule 20 mg capsule | No current entry |
| Pantoprazole | Acid reflux and ulcers | 52 labelers | $0.0358 per tablet 40 mg tablet | No current entry |
Every medicine labeled for the same conditions as cimetidine
Source: FDA drug labels (indications), NDC Directory, NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages (October 8, 2026)
How does cimetidine compare with medicines for the same use?
6 side-by-side pages set cimetidine beside a medicine whose label shares a use: approvals, generics, pharmacy cost, warnings and supply.
What next?
- Alternatives to cimetidine
- 21 medicines for the same use
- Other H2 blockers
- the pharmacologic class, with prices and generics
- Cimetidine side effects
- the label's list beside FAERS reports
- Check an interaction
- what two or more labels say about each other