Farley and colleagues designed a multicenter double-blind comparative study to determine the effects of oral ranitidine 300 mg at night and 150 mg bid in patients with duodenal (DU) and gastric ulcers (GU). The study included 89 patients with DU and 54 patients with GU. Patients were prescribed antacid tablets as needed.

• After 4 weeks of treatment with the two ranitidine regimens, researchers found no statistically significant differences in the ulcer healing rates (Table).
• Consumption of antacid tablets by both DU and GU patients appeared to be higher with the twice daily regimen; however, the difference was not statistically significant.
• There was further improvement in cumulative healing rates with both treatment after a second 4-week treatment among patients whose ulcers did not heal during the 1st 4 weeks.
• Smoking had an adverse impact on the rate of ulcer healing in DU patients, but no significant impact on GU healing.

Ranitidine 300 mg OD at night was as safe and effective as 150 mg bid in the short-term treatment of duodenal and gastric ulcers.

Table. Ulcer healing rates after 4 weeks of treatment with the two ranitidine regimens

Source: Farley A, Lévesque D, Paré P, et al. A comparative trial of ranitidine 300 mg at night with ranitidine 150 mg twice daily in the treatment of duodenal and gastric ulcer. Am J Gastroenterol. 1985 Sep;80(9):665-8.