A single standard nocturnal dose of nizatidine enhances the healing of active duodenal ulcers among Chinese.

Chinese people have a lower maximal acid output and gastrin response to meals compared to Western people. The aim of the present study was to assess the efficacy of a half-single nocturnal dose of nizatidine (150 mg at bedtime [h.s.], n = 40) with a standard full dose given once nightly (300 mg h.s., n = 38) or twice daily (150 mg twice a day [b.i.d.], n = 43) in the treatment of Chinese patients with active duodenal ulcers. An endoscopy was performed upon entry and at 4 week intervals until the ulcer healed (up to 8 weeks). There is no statistical difference in healing rates after 4 weeks of treatment (52.5, 52 and 47% in nizatidine 150 mg h.s., 150 mg b.i.d. and nizatidine 300 mg h.s., respectively) whereas nizatidine 300 h.s. had a significantly higher healing rate compared to nizatidine 150 mg h.s. and b.i.d. after 8 weeks of treatment (89 vs 70 and 67%, P < 0.05) by uni- and multivariate analysis of clinical and endoscopic characteristics. Symptomatic response was not significantly different in these three treated groups. Our study suggested that a half-single nocturnal dose of nizatidine is not ideal for the treatment of duodenal ulcer in Chinese patients, whereas a single standard nocturnal dose appears more effective than a twice-daily regimen.