© 1993 Oxford University Press
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Association of Age with the Efficacy and Safety of Ranitidine and Cimetidine in Acute Duodenal Ulcer Disease
Division of International Medical Affairs, Glaxo Group Research Limited Stockley Park West, Uxbridge, Middlesex UB11 1BT
*Address correspondence to: Dr J. R. Wood.
This multinational double-blind trial compared the efficacy and safety of ranitidine 300 mg nocte, 300 mg post-evening meal (pem) and cimetidine 800 mg nocte in patients with endoscopically verified duodenal ulcer disease aged < 60 years (n = 1318) and
60 years (n = 354). The relative efficacy of the treatments was not dependent upon age after either 2 or 4 weeks of therapy. However, ulcer healing after 2 weeks of therapy was significantly higher in patients receiving ranitidine 300 mg pem than in those receiving cimetidine (p = 0.003) in the < 60-year group, but the difference was not significant in the
60-year group. Fewer patients aged
60 years on cimetidine (62%) became pain free compared with those on ranitidine (72% in both groups). Relief of epigastric pain and heartburn was related to pre-trial severity in both age groups. The incidence and type of adverse events were similar in the two age groups. It is concluded that ranitidine and cimetidine are as effective at healing duodenal ulcer and relieving ulcer symptoms in elderly as in younger patients.
Revision received January 29, 1993.
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