A comparison of oxmetidine and cimetidine in the treatment of duodenal ulcer.

Oxmetidine (1 g/day), a new histamine H2-receptor antagonist, or cimetidine (1 g/day) was given to 30 patients with endoscopically proven duodenal ulcers in a randomised, double-blind trial. Ulcer healing was assessed endoscopically after four weeks' treatment, and again at eight weeks in those who had not healed in the first four weeks. Of the 15 patients receiving oxmetidine, 11 (73 percent) had healed their ulcers in four weeks, while 14 (93 percent) had healed their ulcers in eight weeks. Comparable healing rates were found with cimetidine, namely 13 of 15 (87 percent) after four weeks and all 15 patients (100 percent) after eight weeks. The patients were relieved of their symptoms to a comparable degree with both drugs. Weekly clinical, haematological and biochemical monitoring failed to reveal any relevant adverse effects except for a mild asymptomatic rise in serum creatinine levels with both oxmetidine and cimetidine.