A comparison of the effects on intragastric acidity of bedtime or dinnertime administration of a once daily dose of famotidine.
In order to assess whether dinnertime administration of a once daily dose of famotidine is more advantageous than a bedtime dose in suppressing evening and nocturnal gastric acidity, we gave nine patients with a past history of duodenal ulcer in double-blind, randomized fashion either (1) placebo at 6 p.m. and 10 p.m., (2) famotidine 40 mg at 6 p.m. (Fam 6) + placebo at 10 p.m. or (3) placebo at 6 p.m. + famotidine at 10 p.m. (Fam 10) on three separate occasions. Comparison of the 24-h median pH values showed that the two administrations of famotidine were superior to placebo, while Fam 6 was significantly more effective than Fam 10. The gain in acid suppression of Fam 6 with respect to Fam 10 was particularly evident from 6 p.m. to midnight. Although the antisecretory effectiveness of Fam 6 was lower than that of Fam 10 from 4 a.m. to 8 a.m., it remained clearly higher than that of placebo and ensured virtual anacidity (median pH = 6.7) even in this time segment. We conclude that a once daily dose of famotidine at 6 p.m. is better than bedtime administration at covering the long period of continuous unbuffered intragastric acidity which extends from after the evening meal to breakfast.
Savarino
V
V
Istituto Scientifico di Medicina Interna, Cattedra di Gastroenterologia, Genova, Italy.
Mela
G S
GS
Scalabrini
P
P
Fera
G
G
Zentilin
P
P
Sumberaz
A
A
Celle
G
G
D000328:Adult; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004381:Duodenal Ulcer / Q000188:drug therapy; D015738:Famotidine; D005260:Female; D005744:Gastric Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D005745:Gastric Acidity Determination; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011897:Random Allocation; D013844:Thiazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013997:Time Factors
D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D013844:Thiazoles; D015738:Famotidine