The efficacy of histamine H2-receptor antagonists is well documented for peptic ulcers. After four to eight weeks of treatment, 80-90% of gastric and duodenal ulcers are healed, this is more than double than with a placebo. A nightly 300 mg ranitidine dose has about the same efficacy as the administration of two daily 150 mg doses. Cimetidine and other H2-receptor antagonists as well as sucralfate produce practically equal results; omeprazole acts faster and a bit more reliably. Without further therapy there will be a relapse in 50 to 80% of the cases within a year; a nightly 150 mg ranitidine dose reduces the relapse rate to approximately 20%. Ranitidine effectively prevents duodenal ulcers (but not gastric ulcers) in a therapy with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents.

Its effects against reflux oesophagitis and Zollinger-Ellison syndrome is well documented; however, omeprazole is significantly superior for those indications.

Ranitidine is frequently used for dyspepsias of undetermined origin but it is hardly documented for this common problem. The use of H2-receptor antagonists for acute upper gastrointestinal bleedings is judged controversially; some studies yielded disappointing results.

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