[Bioavailability of cimetidine after partial gastrectomy (author's transl)].

Absorption characteristics of cimetidine were studied in 10 patients after Billroth I and 12 patients after Billroth II gastrectomy and compared with 9 patients without gastric disease. The onset of absorption after 400 mg cimetidine was identical in all groups, but peak plasma concentrations occurred somewhat (18%) later in B I and significantly (42%) later in B II patients (p less than 0.05). Plasma half life was not different between the 3 groups. The area under the plasma level curve as a measure for bioavailability was significantly increased in the two gastrectomy groups (17% and 23%, resp.). In addition, the duration of effective plasma concentrations above 0.5 microgram/ml was significantly prolonged in the two groups.