Multiple portion tablet

This invention relates to pharmaceutical dosage forms for the treatment of gastric disorders, and more particularly to multiple layer or multiple portion solid oral dosage forms comprising a histamine H -receptor antagonist and an antacid. A solid orally administrable pharmaceutical dosage form for the treatment of gastric disorders includes a first portion containing a therapeutically effective amount of a histamine H-receptor antagonist, and a second portion immediately adjacent the first portion without an intervening barrier disposed between the first portion and the second portion, the second portion containing a therapeutically effective amount of an antacid. Physical separation of the active ingredients into two different portions without a separating barrier has been found sufficient to prevent degradation of the histamine H-receptor antagonist due to contact with the antacid. The invention therefore provides stabilization of a histamine H-receptor antagonist-antacid combination tablet which is comparable to known multiple portion tablets, but without an intervening barrier between the antacid portion and the histamine H-receptor antagonist portion. Therefore, the benefits of the prior art are achieved at a reduced cost by eliminating a barrier and manufacturing steps associated with the provision of a barrier, as is conventional.