Cimetidine as an adjunct to oral enzymes in the treatment of malabsorption due to cystic fibrosis.

The effects of two doses orally administered Cimetidine on gastric and acid production and on intestinal absorption in 13 patients with cystic fibrosis who were treated with pancreatin supplementation were studied. Although both doses of Cimetidine reduced the acid secretion significantly, no reduction in the steatorrhea and creatorrhea or increase in weight were found, although less pancreatin seemed to be inactivated while on cimetidine. It is concluded that pancreatic extract supplementation alone is not sufficient to normalise the digestion in cystic fibrosis.