A combination of pirenzepine and cimetidine: a new approach to treatment of duodenal ulcer in "non-responders".

Abstract

Treatment of peptic ulcer in "non-responders" with the combination of pirenzepine and cimetidine was evaluated in a longterm study. Patients who did not respond to two months of treatment, first with cimetidine (1 g/day), and then pirenzepine (150 mg/day), were given one of these two compounds alone for 6 months or a combination at lower doses for 24 months. The combination of pirenzepine (75 mg/day) and cimetidine (400 mg/day) was successful in a high percentage of cases, and showed fewer side effects than in the single treatment groups. The effectiveness of the combination treatment might be due to its more significant anti-secretory effects.