[Ranitidine therapy of duodenal ulcer: comparison of once-a-day and twice-a-day administration. A Swiss multicenter double-blind study].

In a Swiss multicenter double-blind trial ranitidine was given in doses of 300 mg nocte and 150 mg b.d. for the treatment of duodenal ulcer. Ninety-seven patients with endoscopically proven ulcer were treated for four, and in cases of non-healing for eight, weeks. Cumulative healing rates with 300 mg and 2 X 150 mg were 77% and 78% after four weeks and 90% and 94% after eight weeks respectively. 60 and 65% of the patients were asymptomatic after four weeks. Smoking did not adversely affect healing. Thus, ranitidine in a dose of 300 mg nocte is as effective as ranitidine in a dose of 150 mg b.d. in the treatment of duodenal ulcer.