Ranitidine 150 mg twice daily is effective in healing non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)-associated peptic ulcers, stated a study published in the journal Gut.

The multicenter study assessed the effect of ranitidine on healing NSAID-associated peptic ulcers in patients who had stopped taking NSAIDs and compared it with a group of patients who continued with NSAID treatment.

Overall, 190 patients with confirmed ulcers were randomized to continue or stop NSAID treatment. All patients also received ranitidine 150 mg twice a day. Patients were endoscopically evaluated at 4, 8, and 12 weeks.

• At 8 weeks, gastric ulcers had healed in 63% of the patients on NSAID treatment compared to 95% of those who had stopped NSAID treatment.
• For duodenal ulcers, at 8 weeks, the healing rates were 84% in the patients who continued NSAID treatment, compared with 100% in those who stopped NSAIDs.
• There were statistically significant differences in healing rates for both gastric ulcers (p = 0.001) and duodenal ulcers (p = 0.006).
• At 12 weeks, 79% of gastric ulcers and 92% of duodenal ulcers had healed in the patients continuing with NSAIDs.
• Gastric and duodenal ulcers had healed in all patients at 12 weeks who had stopped taking NSAIDs.

Conclusion -

Ranitidine can effectively heal NSAID-associated peptic ulcers.

Healing appears to be better when NSAID treatment is stopped; however, even if these drugs are continued, considerable healing rates can be attained.

Source: Lancaster-Smith MJ, Jaderberg ME, Jackson DA. Ranitidine in the treatment of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug associated gastric and duodenal ulcers. Gut 1991;32:252-255.