Formulation and Evaluation of Cimetidine as a Topical Preparation

In a study from 2007, cimetidine, a drug commonly used for stomach ulcers, was formulated into a topical cream to explore its potential for other uses. The in vitro release of cimetidine from various semisolid bases was tested, with the o/w emulsion base B (cream base) showing the best release, leading to its selection for further studies. The diffusion of cimetidine through excised mouse skin increased with higher drug concentrations. Among different penetration enhancers tested, 3% w/w sodium lauryl sulphate significantly increased the diffusion rate of cimetidine. The stability of the cimetidine cream was affected by temperature and storage period, but using EDTA disodium as a stabilizer extended its expiration date to 4.09 years. A preliminary clinical study with fifteen patients, including ten with warts and five with adrenal androgenic female-pattern alopecia, showed that 80% of wart patients and 40% of alopecia patients responded positively to the treatment.