Controlled trial of carbenoxolone sodium vs. cimetidine in duodenal ulcer.

The healing-rate of duodenal ulcer after short-term treatment with carbenoxolone was not significantly different from that after treatment with cimetidine. There seems to be no evidence of a significant difference in the tendency of duodenal ulceration to relapse following successful short-term therapy with either treatment. In the case of cimetidine treatment the rate of 58% relapse within 12 months after withdrawal of the drug corresponds well to the data of other authors (3, 19) and does not exceed the relapse rate during placebo medication. The post-treatment relapse study was markedly hampered by a low compliance of patients to cooperate in the long-term follow-up. The drop-out rate was greater in patients previously treated with carbenoxolone than in those of the cimetidine group.