[Prevention of the recurrence of duodenal ulcer with famotidine. Report of experiences with long-term therapy in an open clinical study].

In this open trial, 25 patients with identified duodenal ulcers were given long-term therapy of a single evening dose of 20 mg famotidine. 18 patients completed the study, 7 were withdrawn because of compliance difficulties. The patients included in this study had a long history of ulcer disease; ulcers were identified by endoscopy and they were healed after 4 or 8 weeks of H2-blocker therapy. Under long-term therapy with famotidine (Ulcusan), ulcers recurred in 3 patients after 3 months, a further 3 recurred after 6 months, and another 2 after 12 months. The recurrence of ulcers occurred in many patients without symptoms. Tolerance of the drug was good in all patients. No change in biochemical parameters was observed. Undesired side effects were not seen. Low dose famotidine therapy (20 mg Ulcusan tablets) is suitable in long-term treatment of peptic ulcer disease; frequent endoscopy would be advisable to detect recurrency of asymptomatically ulcers.