The 24-hour acid suppression profile of nizatidine

To determine the antisecretory potency of bedtime doses of the new thiazole H2-receptor antagonist nizatidine in the suppression of nocturnal acid secretion, this randomized, cross-over, single-blind study was performed in 10 healthy male subjects. The actions of a single bedtime (2100 h) dose of the H2-receptor antagonist nizatidine (150 mg and 300 mg), ranitidine (300 mg), cimetidine (800 mg), and famotidine (40 mg), as well as placebo on nocturnal gastric acid and volume secretion (2400 to 0600 h) and on overall 24 h H+-ion concentration were studied. Compared with placebo, night-time (2300 to 0700 h) H+ ion concentration was reduced by 70, 79, 95, 75, and 89% (p less than 0.05 to p less than 0.01). Nocturnal acid secretion, too, was significantly lower for the H2-blockers than for placebo (p less than 0.01). A significant reduction in total night-time gastric volume secretion was observed (p less than 0.01). Nizatidine 300 mg nocte, ranitidine, cimetidine and famotidine had no significant carry-over effects on daytime acidity (0800 to 1800 h). No significant pharmacodynamic differences between nizatidine 300 mg nocte, ranitidine 300 mg nocte, cimetidine 800 mg nocte and famotidine 40 mg nocte were observed. Thus, it may be concluded that these four H2-blockers will be equally effective in accelerating peptic ulcer healing and pain relief.