Trimipramine in the treatment of active duodenal ulceration

Forty-five patients with endoscopically proven uncomplicated active duodenal ulcers were placed in a randomised double-blind trial. Six patients were lost to follow-up. Twenty patients received 50 mg trimipramine (Surmontil) at night, and 19 patients received placebo. Complete healing was defined as disappearance of the ulcer, with or without a scar; partial healing was defined as a reduction of ulcer size to 25% of its size, or a large deep ulcer that became flat, if erosions were present even if the ulcer had gone. After 4 weeks of trimipramine treatment 35% had completely healed and 50% had partly healed, compared with 21% completely and 21% partly healed with placebo (chi-square 7.9; p less than 0.025 in favour of trimipramine). There were no side effects. Trimipramine, 50 mg at night, is a safe and effective treatment for active duodenal ulceration.