Cimetidine and Hydroxychloroquine interaction

Cimetidine and Hydroxychloroquine: the Hydroxychloroquine prescribing label flag this combination with the strongest language, such as a contraindication, a boxed warning, or an instruction to avoid it.

Major

Do not combine without a prescriber's guidance. The label language below is the strongest FDA uses.

What the FDA labels say

From the Hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) label · effective 2026-04-09

Major

Avoid concomitant use of cimetidine 7.9 Rifampicin Lack of efficacy of hydroxychloroquine was reported when rifampicin was concomitantly administered.

Drug interactionsnames CimetidineView label on DailyMed
Moderate

Cimetidine Concomitant use of cimetidine resulted in a 2-fold increase of exposure of chloroquine, which is structurally related to hydroxychloroquine.

Drug interactionsnames CimetidineView label on DailyMed
Minor

Interaction of cimetidine with hydroxychloroquine cannot be ruled out.

Drug interactionsnames CimetidineView label on DailyMed

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Not medical advice. Interaction Checker quotes FDA label text and NIH fact sheets. Whether an interaction matters for you depends on doses, timing, kidney and liver function, and other conditions. Confirm with a pharmacist or prescriber.