Effect of histamine H2-receptor blockade on vagally induced gastric secretion in man

Metiamide, an antagonist of histamine H(2) receptors, was administered intravenously to normal subjects and to patients with a peptic ulcer during vagal stimulation with a constant infusion of insulin. In normal and peptic-ulcer subjects there were reductions of 70% and 71% respectively in gastric-acid output compared with control tests on the same subjects. The decreased acid output resulted from a reduction in both volume of secretion and acid concentration. Metiamide is therefore a potent inhibitor of vagally-induced gastric acid secretion.