Inhibition of intragastric acidity in healthy subjects dosed with ranitidine 75 mg: a comparative study with cimetidine and placebo

Background Despite the widespread use of over‐the‐counter H2‐receptor antagonists little is known about their duration of action on human gastric acid secretion. There are studies reporting inhibitory effects for up to 9 h post‐dose but few data beyond this period. Methods Profiles of 20‐h intragastric acidity were measured simultaneously in 24 healthy subjects who were dosed (at 12.30 h) with either ranitidine 75 mg, cimetidine 200 mg or placebo in a three‐way crossover study, according to a standard protocol. Five‐millilitre aliquots of gastric juice were aspirated half‐hourly during the day (0–10 h post‐dose) and hourly overnight (10–20 h post‐dose). pH was measured to three decimal places with a glass electrode. Weighted intragastric acidity (AUC/time) was calculated for both day‐ and night‐times using 2.5‐h intervals during the day and 5‐h intervals at night. Statistical analysis was by ANOVA. Results The results are expressed as mean weighted intragastric acidity (mmol/L). (i) Daytime (0–10 h post‐dose): when dosed with placebo the weighted intragastric acidity was 31.03, decreasing to 10.37 (P