Comparison of ranitidine and cimetidine in duodenal ulcer healing

A single-blind trial in 50 outpatients was aimed at comparing the effectiveness of ranitidine (150 mg twice a day) and cimetidine (200 mg three times a day and 400 mg at night) in the healing of endoscopically proven duodenal ulcer. Patients were reassessed after two weeks of therapy, and then after four weeks immediately before repeat endoscopy. If the ulcer had not healed, treatment was continued for a further two weeks when patient assessment and endoscopy were repeated. By four weeks, ulcers had healed in 72% of patients receiving ranitidine and in 64% of those receiving cimetidine (P = 0.76). At six weeks, the healing rate was 92% in both groups. Symptomatic improvement was similar with both drugs. It is concluded that ranitidine and cimetidine are equally effective in healing duodenal ulcer.