Efficacy of twice daily doses of 40 or 20 milligrams famotidine or 150 milligrams ranitidine for treatment of patients with moderate to severe erosive esophagitis. Famotidine Erosive Esophagitis Study Group.

The comparative efficacy of twice daily regimens of 40 mg famotidine (group 1), 20 mg famotidine (group 2), and 150 mg ranitidine (group 3) was investigated in a double-blind randomized study of parallel groups of patients with endoscopically documented erosive esophagitis. Patients were enrolled at 29 centers in 19 countries and treated for 6 to 12 weeks until healing, defined as complete resolution of visible ulceration or erosion of the esophageal mucosa, demonstrated by repeat endoscopy. Healing occurred in 71% of 175 group-1 patients, 68% of 93 group-2 patients, and 60% of 172 group-3 patients; the difference between groups 1 and 3 was significant (P < or = 0.05). The three treatments produced similar levels of global symptomatic improvement and relief of daytime and nighttime heartburn. All treatments were well tolerated. These results support the hypothesis that reduction of esophageal acid exposure by 40 mg famotidine twice daily produces healing of lesions in patients with erosive esophagitis and is more effective than regimens that provide lesser reductions in esophageal acid exposure time.