Single-drug and combined medication with cimetidine, antacids and pirenzepine in the prophylaxis of acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

For an analysis of the risk factors for stress bleeding, 24 risk factors selected from 202 clinical parameters were analysed, and their values determined in 586 medical and surgical intensive-care patients treated for at least six days between 1975 and 1980, who received no prophylactic medication. In 420 patients who received a prophylactic treatment with 800 mg or 1200 mg cimetidine, 2-hourly 30 ml antacids or 30 mg pirenzepine individually or in combination, the total risk scores were determined as the sum of the risk factors. This risk score served as the unit for comparison of the prophylaxis groups. Combined medication with two or three drugs proved to be significantly superior to treatment with either of the medicaments given alone.