Farmacoepidemiología de antiulcerosos. Estudio multicéntrico

We reviewed the use of antiulcerants in four hospitals in Catalonia during 1990. We then surveyed the physicians of the intensive care, internal medicine, surgery and gastroenterology services in order to ascertain their criteria of use for these drugs. As indicated by consumption data, both for the treatment and prophylaxis of gastric and/or duodenal ulcers the drug considered first choice by those surveyed was ranitidine. The reasons given for this choice were mainly the fact of having longer experience with this drug and its few adverse effects. However, a notable feature is the variability of dosage of ranitidine suggested by those surveyed when used endovenously. The limited use of famotidine is associated primarily with the little experience that the interviewers have with this drug. Omeprazol is usually reserved for cases of failure of treatment with antiH2. As regards sucralfate, its use is increasing all the time, more especially for prophylaxis.