A comparison of three doses of lansoprazole (15, 30 and 60 mg) and placebo in the treatment of duodenal ulcer

SUMMARY Background: Lansoprazole is a new proton pump inhibitor for the treatment of peptic ulcer disease. Methods: A double‐blind, multicentre study was undertaken in 2 9 6 patients with endoscopically proven duodenal ulcer to compare the efficacy and safety of lansoprazole 15, 30 or 60 mg with placebo. Ulcer healing was documented by endoscopy at 2 and 4 weeks; patients whose ulcers healed after 4 weeks were followed for up to 6 months post‐treatment. Results : Four‐week healing rates of 89.4% 91.7% and 89.9% were obtained with lansoprazole 15, 30 and 60 mg, respectively, compared with 46.1 % on placebo ( P < 0.001). All three doses of lansoprazole produced rapid symptom relief, although patients taking 60 mg lansoprazole required fewer antacids than did those taking 15 mg. At 6 months, the percentages of patients healed were 45.3%, 40.0% and 38.4% in the lansoprazole 15, 30 and 60 mg dosage groups, respectively, and 2 5.3 % for the placebo group. No significant adverse events were documented during the period of this trial. Conclusion : Lansoprazole is an effective and safe treatment for duodenal ulcer and the 15 mg dose is as effective as 30 or 60 mg.