Effect of ranitidine on healing of peptic ulcer: a 2-month study

A multicenter trial of oral ranitidine 150 mg bid was conducted in 41 patients with duodenal and 30 with gastric ulcers. Patients were randomly allocated in double-blind fashion to 4 wk treatment with either ranitidine or placebo, after which all unhealed patients were given 4 wk on the active drug without breaking the original allocation code. After 4 wk of treatment the healing rate associated with ranitidine was significantly superior to that of placebo in both duodenal and gastric ulcer patients. Further improvement in cumulative healing rates was observed after the 2nd month of the study. After the allocation code was broken and all patients had had the opportunity of up to 8 wk on the active drug, there remained only a single unhealed pyloric ulcer. No serious adverse effects or biochemical abnormalities were observed. Ranitidine is a potent and well-tolerated H2 antagonist. Therapy for 4 or 8 wk is highly effective in the treatment of uncomplicated gastroduodenal ulcer.