The effects of cigarette smoking on plasma concentrations of gastric antisecretory drugs

SUMMARY Plasma concentrations of cimetidine and ranitidine were measured after oral administration (n= 5 for cimetidine, n= 5 for ranitidine) or intravenous administration (n= 6 for cimetidine, n= 4 for ranitidine) in habitual smokers, once when cigarettes were smoked and again on a separate day when cigarettes were prohibited. After oral administration plasma concentrations of both drugs rose more rapidly and peak plasma concentrations were achieved earlier when cigarettes were smoked. However, plasma concentrations of the drugs subsequent to the peak were significantly lower when cigarettes were smoked. Cigarette smoking had no effect on plasma blood concentrations of either drug when administered intravenously. In eight healthy smokers cigarette smoking increased the gastric emptying of a liquid test meal by 28% compared with non‐smoking control rates. In habitual smokers cigarette smoking alters the blood concentrations of antisecretory drugs in a manner which appears attributable to an increase in the rate of gastric emptying. The observed changes in drug disposition may contribute to the loss of gastric secretory inhibition observed in duodenal ulcer patients who are smokers.