[Single evening administration of etintidine in the human: effect on acid secretion and behavior of important hormones].

The potency and duration of action of a single dose of etintidine, ranitidine and cimetidine were compared in placebo-controlled studies. In addition, the effect of a single night-time dose of etintidine (600 mg) on gastric acid secretion and basal hormone levels was assessed before, during and after a 28-day treatment. Nocturnal gastric acidity (23.00-07.00) was inhibited from 41.04 +/- 5.0 mmol/l to 12.9 +/- 2.8 mmol/l by 300 mg etintidine, to 6.50 +/- 2.5 mmol/l by 600 mg etintidine and to 8.58 +/- 2.5 mmol/l by 800 mg cimetidine nocte. Etintidine and cimetidine did not reduce H+-concentrations during the following day. Pentagastrin-stimulated acid output was virtually not affected after 600 mg etintidine and 800 mg cimetidine as well. By contrast, stimulated acid secretion was still suppressed by about 50% following 300 mg ranitidine. Basal levels of testosterone, prolactin etc. remained unchanged by 28-day etintidine (600 mg dose at night) treatment. Clinical studies are needed to examine the place of the single dose of etintidine (600 mg) at night for the short-term treatment of duodenal ulcer.