Sc. Misra et al., OMEPRAZOLE VERSUS FAMOTIDINE IN THE HEALING AND RELAPSE OF DUODENAL-ULCER, Alimentary pharmacology & therapeutics, 7(4), 1993, pp. 443-449
Sixty patients with symptomatic duodenal ulcer were randomized to rece
ive either omeprazole (20 mg each morning) or famotidine (40 mg at nig
ht time) for 2-4 weeks in a double-blind parallel group clinical trial
. Healing rates were higher with omeprazole in comparison with famotid
ine after 2 weeks (77% vs. 40%, P < 0.001) and 4 weeks (93% vs. 80%, P
= 0.2) of treatment. Assessment of daily diary cards completed by all
patients revealed that omeprazole rapidly relieved ulcer-related day
pain and nocturnal pain in comparison to famotidine. Treatment with om
eprazole for 2 weeks was also associated with lower cumulative antacid
intake (P < 0.05) and reduced absenteeism from work. Helicobacter pyl
ori infection was present in all patients and remained unaffected by t
reatment with either of the drugs. None of the drugs produced any sign
ificant adverse effects. During 6 months follow-up of all the patients
after ulcer healing (without maintenance therapy), ulcer relapse was
seen in 40% of omeprazole- and 37% of famotidine-treated patients (P >
0.1). The duration of ulcer-free period following initial healing of
ulcer was also similar in both the groups (median time: 22 weeks for o
meprazole, 21 weeks for famotidine). We conclude that omeprazole is su
perior to famotidine in rapidly healing duodenal ulcers and achieving
more rapid pain relief, but does not influence subsequent ulcer relaps
e.