MAINTENANCE TREATMENT OF DUODENAL-ULCER PATIENTS WITH A SINGLE BEDTIME DOSE OF CIMETIDINE

Patients (58) with endoscopically verified duodenal ulcers were treated with cimetidine, 1 g/day for 6-10 wk. The ulcers healed in 52 of 54 patients completing the treatment (96.3%). Of the patients, 47 with healed ulcer were randomly allocated to 1 yr of maintenance treatment, 23 patients with cimetidine, 400 mg at night and 24 patients with placebo tablets. In the cimetidine-treated group, 2 of 20 patients (10%) completing the trial had recurrence of ulceration, but 16 of 23 patients (70%) completing the placebo treatment had ulcer recurrence (P < 0.001). The drug was well tolerated and, except for a marked increase in serum transaminases in 3 patients, no serious side effects were seen.