Effect of Intermittent Therapy With Rabeprazole 20mg in Patients With Symptomatic Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease-A Double Blind Omeprazole-Controlled Study
R. Vedamanickam1, B. Harri Prasad2, R. Vinothkumar3 and Nagendram Dinakaran41Department of Medicine. Sree Balaji Medical College and Hospital, Chrompet, Chennai.
2Department of Medical Gastroenterology and Hepalology, Sree Balaji Medical College and Hospital, Chrompet, Chennai.
3Sree Balaji Medical College and Hospital, Chrompet, Chennai.
4Senior Gastroenterologist, Chennai.
Abstract: Long term intermittent management of symptomatic erosive and non - erosive gastro esophageal reflux (GERD) disease needs elucidation and evaluation. To evaluate the clinical value of maintenance intermittent with oral rabeprazole 20mg once a day versus omeprazole 20mg once a day in patients with symptomatic. This prospective study included 60 adults patients of either sex aged 21-65 years with mean age of 31.4 + 1.2 years with symptomatic history of GERD more than 3 months duration consist of both erosive and non - erosive esophagitis. They were divided into two groups one group enrolled with oral rabepazole 20mg once a day initial 4 weeks followed by intermittent maintenance therapy of same dose 4 days a week for 6 months, another group enrolled with oral omeprazole 20mg once a day for initial 4 weeks followed by intermittent maintenance therapy 4 days a week for 6 months. When symptoms recurs, on demand liquid antacid 15 ml given when heart burn occurs either day time or night time. The outcome was elicited on clinical score severity of symptoms. Patients rated symptoms severity on a 5 point scale. 0= no symptoms and 4= very severe symptoms that interfere considerable with daytime or sleep. The primary efficacy end point mean percentage of heart burn free days was significantly greater with rabeprazole when compared to omeprazole. Rabeprazole experienced a significantly higher percentage of symptoms free daytime 75.9% versus 62.7% in omeprazole group and night time 82.6% in rabeprazole compared to 61.4% in omeprazole group. Intermittent use of rabeprazole may be an effective maintenance treatment strategy in patients with GERD.
Keywords: GERD; erosive and non-erosive; gastritis; rabeprazole omeprazole Back to TOC