Maintenance treatment of recurrent duodenal ulceration with pirenzepine.

Twenty-eight patients with healed duodenal ulcer completed a 12-month double-blind trial to compare the effects of pirenzepine (25 mg twice daily) and placebo on the prevention of duodenal ulcer relapse. Seven of those on pirenzepine had endoscopically proven recurrent ulcer within a mean of 5 months, while 9 of those on placebo had one after a mean of 5.7 months (n.s.). No untoward effects which could be attributed to the drug were observed during the whole period of treatment.