AIM: To compare ecabet sodium and cimetidine in relieving symptoms of functional dyspepsia.METHODS: We performed a multi-center, prospective,randomized, double-blinded controlled trial to compare the clinical efficacy of ecabet sodium and cimetidine in patients with functional dyspepsia. Two-hundred and seventy-two patients with dyspeptic symptoms fulfilling the Rome-Ⅱ criteria were enrolled from 7 centers. In the study group (115 patients), 1.5 g ecabet sodium was given twice a day. In the control group (121 patients),400 mg cimetidine was given twice a day. Symptoms and parameters of quality of life were analyzed at baseline, 3,14, and 28 d after initiating the treatment.RESULTS: Two-hundred and thirty-six patients completed the clinical trial. After 4 wk of treatment,the rates of improvement in patients with dyspeptic symptoms were not different between two groups (77.4% in the ecabet group and 79.3% in the cimetidine group, respectively, P ＞ 0.05). Likewise, the rates of symptomatic improvement were not different at 3 d and 14 d. The parameters of quality of life did not change significantly during the study period in both groups.There was no clinically significant adverse event in both groups.CONCLUSION: In patients with functional dyspepsia,ecabet sodium has similar clinical efficacy with cimetidine.