A comparative trial of ranitidine 300 mg at night with ranitidine 150 mg twice daily in the treatment of duodenal and gastric ulcer.

A multicenter double-blind comparative trial of oral ranitidine, 300 mg hs versus 150 mg bid, was conducted in 89 patients with duodenal ulcer (DU) and 54 with gastric ulcer (GU). Antacid tablets were prescribed prn. After 4 wk of treatment there were no statistically significant differences in the ulcer healing rates associated with the once daily (DU 86.4%, GU 62.5%) and the twice daily (DU 84.4%, GU 73.3%) regimens. Antacid consumption, by both DU and GU patients, was higher in the 150 mg bid group, but the differences did not achieve statistical significance. Further improvement in cumulative healing rates in response to both treatment regimens was observed following a second 4-wk treatment for those patients whose ulcers had failed to heal during the 1st month. Smoking adversely affected the rate of ulcer healing in DU patients, but had no significant effect on GU healing. No serious adverse effects or biochemical abnormalities were observed. Ranitidine 300 mg hs appears to be equally safe and effective as the standard regimen of 150 mg bid in the short-term treatment of uncomplicated gastroduodenal ulcer.