Ranitidine versus Anticholinergic/Antacid for Duodenal Ulcer

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Abstract
A total of 149 patients with endoscopically documented duodenal or prepyloric ulcer were randomly allocated to treatment with ranitidine, 150 mg twice daily (75 patients) or glycopyrrobromide, 2 mg 3 times daily and antacid suspension, 60 ml/day, with a buffering capacity of 480 mmol/day (74 patients). The patients underwent a thorough prestudy symptom analysis and endoscopy was performed by an observer who was unaware of the treatment in use. After 4 and 8 wk courses of treatment the patients were re-evaluated. Sixty-nine patients in the ranitidine group and 66 in the anticholinergic/antacid group completed the trial. Complete ulcer healing was obtained in 60 of the 69 patients (87%) in the ranitidine group and in 50 of the 66 patients (76%) in the anticholinergic/antacid group after 4 wk of treatment and in 65 (94%) and in 61 (92%), respectively, after 8 wk of treatment. Forty-three patients had troublesome side effects of either anticholinergic or antacid treatment and 3 patients had to interrupt the treatment. There were no serious side effects of ranitidine. Ranitidine apparently causes faster ulcer healing than the combination of anticholinergic/antacid. The results show that ranitidine is an effective and safe drug for duodenal ulcer healing, with no troublesome side effects.