CIMETIDINE PREVENTS RECURRENCE. AND COMPLICATIONS OF PEPTIC ULCER

In 68 patients with chronic peptic ulcer, cimetidine 400mg bid significantly reduced the recurrence rate. Six of 32 who received cimetidine had a recurrent ulcer within 7 months compared with 30 of 36 within 4 months in the placebo group. None of the cimetidine group had complications; whereas 4 did in the placebo group. Only I cimetidine-treated patient underwent surgery compared with 15 who received placebo. Compared with placebo. cimetidine significantly reduced pain, antacid consumption, absenteeism, . and the frequency of other symptoms. The Gimetidine.g roup. sho.wedno ..signs Qfr~.Qo~I1d gastric-acid secretion either 2 days or 3.5 months after stopping long-term (1 year) treatment. Cimetidine given long-term was found -to·be-reasonablY safe: . Reversible liver damage was the only probable serious side-effect and occurred in only I patient.

I &demar, G. and Walan, A.: Lancet I: 403(25 Feb 1978)

INPHARMA 18th March. ·1978 p12