Comparing Therapeutic & Side Effects of Low & Standard Doses of Tetracycline & Metronidazole in Patients with Peptic Ulcer

Introduction: Standard dose regimens for eradicating Helicobacter have side effects, so some patients are not able to continue their treatment. This study was done to evaluate two regimens of tetracycline and metronidazole in eradicating Helicobacter Pylori with particular attention to frequency of side effects of two therapies.

Materials & Methods: A prospective randomized controlled trial was conducted on 90 patients with peptic ulcers who were positive for H. pylori. Subjects were divided into two equal groups (low dose & standard dose tetracycline groups). They were matched for age, sex and type of ulcer and received a two week course of either tetracycline 500 mg and metronidazole 250mg every 6 hours per day or tetracycline 250mg and metronidazole 125mg every 4.5 hours per day. Both groups received ranitidine 150mg two times per day. H. pylori status was determined endoscopically by Urease Test. Standard questionnaire was administered to determine compliance to treatment and side effects and to analyze the data t.test was employed.

Results: H.pylori was eradicated in 26/39(66%) in standard group and in 28/45(62%) in low dose group (P>0.05). Side effects were less frequent and less severe in low dose group (p<0.001).

Conclusion: From the above results we can conclude that low dose is more efficient and is accompanied by fewer and milder side effects in comparison to standard dose.