A study by Müller and colleagues was conducted to assess the effect of ranitidine on non-ulcer dyspepsia (NUD). In this double-blind placebo-controlled trial, 652 patients with NUD, characterized by chronic or recurrent complaints of acid-related (epigastric pain, heartburn, acid regurgitation) and non-acid related (fullness/vomiting, nausea) symptoms along with no signs of organic disease, were randomized to receive 4 weeks’ treatment with 150 mg ranitidine twice daily, or placebo.

Investigators recorded the presence and duration of dyspeptic symptoms through interviews at the time of treatment initiation and after 2 and 4 weeks of treatment, and also using diaries.

Treatment with ranitidine led to a significant improvement after 4 weeks (p < 0.05). The effect of ranitidine was slightly more marked in acid-related symptoms.

Researchers concluded that it is clinically valuable to suppress gastric acid secretion in NUD patients, particularly in patients having epigastric pain, acid regurgitation and heartburn.

Source: Müller P, Hotz J, Franz E, Simon B. Ranitidine in the treatment of non-ulcer dyspepsia. A placebo-controlled study in the Federal Republic of Germany. Arzneimittelforschung. 1994 Oct;44(10):1130-2.