New H2-receptor antagonist--roxatidine acetate--in treatment of duodenal ulcer.

A double blind randomised trial, comparing a new H2-receptor antagonist, Roxatidine acetate, with Cimetidine was carried out in 47 patients of uncomplicated, endoscopically proven duodenal ulcer. Twenty seven patients were treated with Roxatidine 75 mg twice daily and 20 patients were treated with Cimetidine 200 mg 3 times a day and 400 mg at bed time for 4 weeks. At the end of 4 weeks, total pain relief was obtained in 74% and 70% patients receiving Roxatidine and Cimetidine respectively. Complete endoscopic healing at the end of 4 weeks was observed in 92.3% patients receiving Roxatidine and 85% patients receiving Cimetidine. These differences were statistically not significant. No significant side effects were observed in either group. We conclude that Roxatidine acetate is comparable to cimetidine in relieving pain and endoscopic healing of duodenal ulcer and has an excellent safety profile.