Relapse of Duodenal Ulcer after Treatment with Trimipramine/Antacids or Cimetidine/Antacids

Abstract

Ninety-three patients with duodenal ulcer were treated with trimipramine. 25 mg at night; Cimetidine. 400 mg at night; or cimetidine. 1000mg/day. In addition, all patients were given 20 ml antacids 1 and 3 h after meals. The healing rates after 6 weeks' treatment were 86%, 85%, and 100% in the three groups, respectively (differences not significant). After healing of the ulcers 88 of the patients were checked monthly during 1 year to study relapse rate. Endoscopy was performed on recurrence of symptoms suggesting relapse and after 6 and 12 months in all asymptomatic patients. Relapse was diagnosed in 64% of the patients in the trimipramine-treated group, in 48% in the 400 mg Cimetidine group, and in 54% in the 1000 mg Cimetidine group (differences not significant). The results suggest that ulcer recurrence is not commoner after treatment with a standard dose of Cimetidine than after a low dosage of Cimetidine or trimipramine.

Key-words:

• Cimetidine
• duodenal ulcer recurrence
• duodenal ulcer treatment
• trimipramine