In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 32 patients with nonulcer dyspepsia received 5 mg of cisapride or placebo three times daily for four weeks after a two-week run-in phase on placebo. Limited antacid use was allowed. Cisapride was superior to placebo in reducing the intensity of epigastric pain at two weeks (P = 0.03) and four weeks (P = 0.01). At the end of treatment, 82% of the cisapride-treated patients and 43% of the controls had no or only mild pain. Minor, gastrointestinal side effects were observed in two cisapride-treated patients and in one control.