The effect of dietary protein-calorie restriction on the renal elimination of cimetidine.

The renal elimination of the weak-base cimetidine was studied in five healthy male subjects during normal and restricted (low-protein, low-calorie) diets in a randomized crossover fashion. An intravenous dose of cimetidine, 7 mg/kg, was administered on day 7 of the normal (100 gm/70 kg protein/day) and the restricted (19 gm/70 kg protein/day) diets. The renal clearance of cimetidine was unchanged by the dietary restriction; however, the fractional excretion of cimetidine increased from 3.06 to 3.94 (P less than 0.05), indicating an apparent increase in net tubular secretion of cimetidine during the restricted diet. We conclude that cimetidine dosage adjustments are apparently not necessary for patients with acutely restricted nutrient intake, although other weakly acidic and basic drugs may require dosage changes.