Baron and Perrin conducted a single-blind study that included 339 patients in 19 centers. The study compared the efficacy and tolerance of ranitidine in the treatment of endoscopically proven gastric ulcers.

The investigators compared ranitidine 150 mg twice a day with cimetidine 1 g daily in divided doses, over 4 weeks. This was followed by another 4-week treatment for patients whose ulcer was not healed. A total of 292 patients completed the study.

• Healing was noted on endoscopy in 69% of patients who were given ranitidine and 59% of those given cimetidine after 4 weeks.
• The rates of healing were 90% and 88%, respectively, at 8 weeks.
• The results were not significantly different. Healing rates for different ulcer sites did not differ as well.
• No serious adverse drug reactions were reported during the study.

It was concluded that ranitidine is an effective and safe treatment for gastric ulcers. The drug is associated with a faster healing rate compared to cimetidine during the first 4 weeks of treatment.

Source: Baron JH, Perrin VL. Gastric ulcer healing with ranitidine and cimetidine. A multicentre study. Scand J Gastroenterol. 1983 Oct;18(7):973-6.