Cimetidine impairs elimination of chlordiazepoxide (Librium) in man

Abstract

We have studied chlordiazepoxide (Librium) disposition and elimination in eight normal subjects before and after 1 week of cimetidine therapy, 300 mg orally four times a day. Cimetidine strikingly impaired the clearance of chlordiazepoxide from plasma, and this was, at least in part, due to decreased demethylation of the drug to N-desmethylchlordiazepoxide. Since the volume of distribution of chlordiazepoxide was not altered by cimetidine, the elimination half-life of chlordiazepoxide was also significantly prolonged by cimetidine therapy.