Comparison of effects of oral and intravenous famotidine on inhibition of nocturnal gastric acid secretion

In this double-blind, placebo-controlled, four-way crossover, randomized study, eight high-secretor (more than 5 meq per hour) volunteers received 20 mg of famotidine by mouth, 10 mg intravenously, and 20 mg intravenously at 9 P.M. Volume, acid content, and pH of continuous gastric aspirates were measured hourly from one to at least 12 hours after treatment. Plasma concentrations of famotidine were determined at specified intervals. All famotidine doses produced marked suppression of gastric secretion. The mean total output was 1,196.3, 526.8, 414.9, and 518.0 ml for placebo, the 10-mg intravenous famotidine dose, the 20-mg intravenous dose, and the 20-mg oral dose, respectively. The latter three values were significantly different from that of placebo at p