Duodenal and gastric ulcer healing rates: a review.

The H2-receptor antagonists ranitidine and cimetidine are more effective than placebo in healing duodenal and gastric ulcers. However, the results of many studies suggest that a significant number of patients respond to treatment with placebo. In general, gastric ulcers respond somewhat more slowly to H2-receptor antagonists than do duodenal ulcers. Comparison trials between ranitidine and cimetidine indicate that both agents are equally effective in healing duodenal ulcers. With gastric ulcers, the results are variable, and neither agent is as effective as in the treatment of duodenal ulcer.