Recent evaluation of the time honoured use of antacids and anticholinergics in the treatment of peptic ulcer disease has not revealed persuasive evidence of efficacy above that of placebo. New drugs becoming available as medical treatments of peptic ulcer disease, viz H2-receptor antagonists and E group prostaglandin analogues, show considerable promise but require more time for adequate evaluation. The surgical treatment of peptic ulcer disease has similarly evolved with the development of effective operations with minimal post surgical morbidity, but again await the test of time for adequate evaluation.
