Relief ofDuodenal UlcerSymptomsbyOralMetiamide

SummaryThirty patients with symptoms of duodenal ulceration were treated for five to eight weeks in a double-blind trial with either metiamide 1 g daily by mouth or a placebo. In the 15 patients receiving metiamide there were significant reductionsinnocturnal pain andantacid consumption. Daytimepain was diminished. Theresults suggest thathistamineH2-receptorantagonists are likely to be useful inthe medical management of the symptoms ofduodenalulceration.IntroductionMetiamideis a histamineH,-receptorantagonist' whichinhibits humangastric acid secretion in response to various stimuli.2-7 Thoughmetiamide has been shown to reduce strikingly over- night gastric secretion in patients with duodenal ulcer,8 there have been no studies of its clinical efficacy in this disease. To assess its effects on the symptoms and antacid consumption of patients with duodenal ulcer we performed a double-blindclinical trial of oral metiamide and a placebo.Patients andMethods The trial was carried out simultaneously