Famotidine Does Not Reduce Recurrent Peptic Ulcers in Patients on Thienopyridines

Patients taking thienopyridines (clopidogrel, ticlopidine) have an increased risk for bleeding from peptic ulcers. Proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) can reduce this risk, but there is unfounded concern about potential interaction between these two drug types.

To evaluate the effect of famotidine, a histamine-2 receptor antagonist (H2RA), on the incidence of recurrent peptic ulcers and their complications in patients on thienopyridine therapy, investigators in Taiwan randomized 228 patients with a history of peptic ulcers taking a thienopyridine for atherosclerotic disease to receive famotidine 40 mg or placebo at bedtime for 6 months. Patients had no ulcers or erosions on an index endoscopy and underwent a second endoscopy at 6 months or as indi…