Ranitidine in the treatment of peptic ulcer

A randomized, double-blind study was done to determine the efficacy and safety of ranitidine in the short-term treatment of duodenal and benign gastric ulcers. Fifty-one patients with duodenal ulcer and 44 patients with gastric ulcer were admitted to the study. Forty-two duodenal ulcer patients and 36 gastric ulcer patients completed the study. In the duodenal ulcer group, 14 (70%) of 20 patients on ranitidine and one (4.5%) of 22 patients on placebo were healed. In the gastric ulcer group, 12 (75%) of 16 patients on ranitidine and six (30%) of 20 patients on placebo were healed. The healing percentages in both groups significantly favored ranitidine. Ranitidine was also significantly better than placebo in relieving ulcer pain. No side effect could be attributed definitely to ranitidine.