부산대학교 도서관

Histamine is a hormone that stimulates the secretion of acid from certain stomach cells. Drugs that block histamine action in the stomach, histamine H2 blockers, have been widely and successfully used to treat stomach ulcers, with healing occurring at a rate of 80 percent after four weeks of ranitidine (an H2 blocker). Omeprazole is a drug which decreases acid secretion by a different method, and was more effective in treating ulcers than ranitidine in preliminary studies. A more extensive study of the two drugs has been completed. The proportion of healed ulcers after treatment with each drug was studied in 194 patients (51 women) with duodenal (junction between stomach and small intestine) or gastric (stomach) ulcers. Omeprazole provided better healing, especially during the first two weeks. At two and at four weeks, the percent of ulcers healed by omeprazole was 68 and 99, respectively. After two and after four weeks of ranitidine treatment, the percent of ulcers healed was 48 and 88, respectively. This is probably related to the greater effectiveness of omeprazole in suppressing acid secretion. Patients reported less pain with omeprazole, as well. The ulcer recurrence rates were similar for each drug. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)