Twice-a-day dosage of cimetidine in the short-term treatment of peptic ulcer.

The effect of cimetidine (400 mg twice a day) on the short-term healing of chronic peptic ulcer is reported. In benign gastric ulcer, 17 of 25 patients (68%) healed in six weeks and 23 of 25 patients (92%) by 12 weeks. In duodenal ulcer, 33 of 42 patients (80%) healed in six weeks and 40 of 42 patients (95%) by 12 weeks. In stomal ulcer after a previous Polya gastrectomy, eight of 10 patients (80%) healed in six weeks and 10 of 10 patients (100%) by 12 weeks. In this study, the cimetidine regimen of 400 mg twice a day has produced healing rates in gastric, duodenal or stomal ulcer which compare favourably with those reported for the currently recommended regimen of 200 mg three times a day and 400 mg at night. Twice a day dosage is likely to improve patient compliance, costs less, and may reduce dose-related side effects. Perhaps 400 mg of cimetidine twice a day should become the recommended dosage for the initial treatment of peptic ulcer.