Comparison of 40 mg famotidine nightly and 150 mg ranitidine b.d.: ulcer healing and symptom relief in benign gastric ulcer

Two hundred and eight patients with benign gastric ulcers seen on endoscopy were recruited by 13 hospitals in the United Kingdom and Ireland into this double-blind study. Patients were assigned by pre-randomized schedule to 8 weeks of treatment with either 40 mg famotidine at night or 150 mg ranitidine b.d. Repeat endoscopy confirmed complete ulcer healing in 62 of 77 evaluable patients in the famotidine group (81%) and 58 of 71 in the ranitidine group (82%). The treatments were equally effective in promptly relieving day and night pain. Adverse events were uncommon; dizziness and headaches were the most frequently reported in both groups. In conclusion, night-time famotidine is as effective as twice daily ranitidine in healing benign gastric ulcers and provides similarly rapid symptomatic relief.