Comparison between ranitidine and cimetidine in the short-term treatment of duodenal ulcer.

Two groups of 46 and 49 patients each with endoscopically proved duodenal ulcer and not previously treated, received ranitidine (150 mg X 2 daily) and cimetidine (1 g/day) respectively for eight weeks. The disappearance of the ulcer was observed endoscopically in 78% of both the first and second groups of patients. Of the ten patients non-responders to ranitidine, six were treated again for eight weeks with ranitidine and four with cimetidine for eight weeks; all of them recovered completely apart from one of the cimetidine treated patients. Of the 11 patients non-responders to cimetidine, seven were retreated with cimetidine and 4 with ranitidine for a further eight weeks and all of them obtained a complete recovery except for one of the cimetidine treated patients. No relevant side-effects were observed with either drug. In conclusion cimetidine and ranitidine showed a comparable therapeutic value.