title: Histamine H2-receptor antagonists.
abstract: The first histamine H2-receptor antagonists were developed in the early 1970s, and they have a dominant role in today's management of peptic ulceration. The original regimens using either cimetidine or ranitidine attempted to control acidity across the 24 hours, but more 'modern' regimens use a large single dose of the H2-blocker in the evening, which produces a pulse of decreased intragastric acidity during the night with a normal acidity in the daytime. High-dose regimens using a new generation of extremely potent histamine H2-receptor antagonists may improve ulcer healing rates at 4 weeks, and may be particularly useful for the management of either severe oesophagitis or intractable duodenal ulceration.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004381:Duodenal Ulcer / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004942:Esophagitis, Peptic / Q000188:drug therapy; D015738:Famotidine; D006635:Histamine H2 Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D016567:Nizatidine; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013844:Thiazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D006635:Histamine H2 Antagonists; D013844:Thiazoles; D015738:Famotidine; D016567:Nizatidine