Two different techniques, that is, second (D2) and third (D3) derivative spectrophotometry and fourier transform infrared (FTIR) Spectrophotometry, are investigated for the selective determination of the intact cimetidine in presence of up to 25% and 75% of its degradates, respectively. The procedures determine 2–10 jag ml−1at 224 nm and 217.5 nm by D2and D3, respectively, and 1–6 mg per 250 mg in K Br by the FTIR with mean accuracies of 100.0 ± 1.07%, 100.5 ± 0.87% and 100.3 ± 1.16%, respectively. The drug is successfully analysed in its pharmaceutical formulations.