Effect of cimetidine and ranitidine on the metabolism and toxicity of hexamethylmelamine.

In a rat model, doses of 20-120 mg/kg of cimetidine prolonged in a dose-related manner the half-life of hexamethylmelamine by 29%-80%, while doses of 1-25 mg/kg of ranitidine did not. Administration of 120 mg/kg of cimetidine with a single 350-mg/kg dose of hexamethylmelamine increased toxicity from LD30 to LD75 (P = 0.005). When combined with 25 mg/kg of ranitidine, a statistically insignificant (P = 0.16) 15% increase in hexamethylmelamine toxicity was noted. These studies indicate that cimetidine but not ranitidine increases the toxicity of hexamethylmelamine through inhibition of microsomal metabolism.