title: Nocturnal therapy with famotidine for 1 year is effective in preventing relapse of gastric ulcer.
abstract: A multicentre, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial was undertaken to investigate the therapeutic efficacy of a nocturnal dose of famotidine 20 mg to reduce the 1 year relapse rate of recently healed gastric ulcers. Twenty investigators in eight countries randomized 202 patients with endoscopically confirmed healed gastric ulcers. Repeat endoscopies were performed at 6 and 12 months or for symptoms compatible with ulcer relapse. A per protocol analysis of cumulative life table relapse at 12 months showed that famotidine 20 mg was superior to placebo in reducing gastric ulcer relapse, 24 versus 50%, respectively (P less than 0.01). Both placebo and famotidine were well tolerated. Since nocturnal dosing with famotidine 20 mg is effective in preventing gastric ulcer relapse over a 1-year period and is well tolerated, it offers a therapeutic option for the long-term treatment of patients with gastric ulcer.
authors.affiliation: International Gastric Ulcer Maintenance Study Group, Merck Sharp & Dohme Research Laboratories, West Point, PA.
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Berlin
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Root
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Cook
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015738:Famotidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D015738:Famotidine