Comparative randomized, double-blind study of oxmetidine versus cimetidine for short-term treatment of duodenal and prepyloric ulceration.

101 patients with endoscopically verified duodenal or prepyloric ulcerations were treated in a 4- to 8-week double-blind randomized trial with oxmetidine 400 mg twice daily (51 patients) or cimetidine 1 g daily (50 patients). Both groups had free access to antacid tablets for symptomatic relief. There were no significant differences between the two treatment alternatives with regard to ulcer healing, relief of ulcer pain, or antacid consumption. The ulcer healing rate after 4 weeks of treatment was 80% in the oxmetidine group and 74% in the cimetidine group and, after 8 weeks, 92% and 86%, respectively. The differences in healing rate at 4 and 8 weeks and the corresponding 95% confidence limits were 6 +/- 16% and 4 +/- 13%, respectively. Both duodenal and prepyloric ulcerations healed to the same extent in the two regimens.