A double-blind study was conducted in 96 centers across 10 European countries that included 428 patients with endoscopically diagnosed gastric ulcers.

The patients were randomized to two treatment groups – one received ranitidine 300 mg as a single night-time dose with matching placebo in the morning and the other group was given ranitidine 150 mg twice daily for four weeks. Endoscopy was done at the end of this treatment period and ulcer-related symptoms were reassessed. Patients whose ulcers had not healed continued with the treatment for another four weeks.

• After four weeks, 65% patients in the ranitidine 300 mg nocte group had complete ulcer healing while 71% receiving 150 mg bd had complete ulcer healing.
• The healing rates were 90% and 93%, respectively, at eight weeks.
• No statistically significant difference could be seen between the healing rates at either four or eight weeks.
• Both the treatment regimens were equally effective at rapidly reducing the incidence of ulcer-related symptoms.
• There were minor adverse events, reported equally in the two groups.

300 mg of ranitidine given as a single night-time dose appears to be an effective and safe choice for the short-term treatment of gastric ulcer.

Source: Ryan FP, Jorde R, Ehsanullah RSB, et al. A single night time dose of ranitidine in the acute treatment of gastric ulcer: a European multicentre trial. Gut 1986:27:784-788.