Double-blind multicenter comparison of 1,200 mg. and 1,000 mg. cimetidine in hospitalized and ambulatory duodenal ulcer patients.

A multicenter double-blind study was made to compare whether 1,000 mg dosage of cimetidine, the dose commonly employed in the United Kingdom, was as effective as the 1,200 mg. dose recommended in the United States for the treatment of duodenal ulcer. Our second goal was to test whether hospitalization would enhance the efficacy of cimetidine in the healing of duodenal ulcer. There was no difference in healing rate after either one (40%) or four (86%) weeks of therapy. In addition, hospitalization (one week) did not enhance the efficacy of cimetidine therapy.