Omeprazole vs ranitidine in the healing of duodenal ulcer

To assess the comparative efficacy of omeprazole 20 mg in the morning versus ranitidine 150 mg twice a day, in the healing of duodenal ulcer, 43 endoscopically verified cases were randomly allocated to 2 or 4 weeks (if ulcer did not heal at 2 weeks) treatment. Two cases were excluded due to deviation from the protocol. Of 21 cases treated with omeprazole 15 (71%) healed at two weeks and all (100%) at 4 weeks. Similarly of 20 cases treated with ranitidine, 14 (70%) healed at 2 and 18 (90%) at 4 weeks (P = NS). Two patients who did not heal with ranitidine, when crossed over to omeprazole healed at 4 weeks. No significant difference in the rate of pain relief, clinical or laboratory parameters or adverse effects were noted in either group. Both the drugs were well tolerated and were potent healer of duodenal ulcer; but omeprazole appears to be superior in the healing of resistent ulcers.