Relief for reflux sufferers

In a recent edition of Therapeutics and Clinical Risk Management, the role of a group of medications known as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) in the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) was investigated. GERD is a chronic disease that affects many people in the community with the possibility of serious long-term complications. In many patients, long-term treatment is required and this can be a burden on time and money. Proton pump inhibitors such as oral pantoprazole (Somac) are accepted as the most effective initial and long-term treatment for GERD. The effective treatment of GERD provides symptom relief, lowers the chances of complications, improves quality of life, and reduces the cost of this disease. The article found that PPIs and in particular Somac are a safe, well tolerated and effective for patients with GERD. It was shown to greatly improve the quality of life of patients, with particular improvements seen in the elderly population.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a chronic disease that can commonly cause a range of potentially serious complications, from ulcers through to the potentially fatal oesophageal cancer. The symptoms and complications of GERD are caused by reflux of the stomach contents into the oesophagus or airway and is associated with heartburn, acid regurgitation, and indigestion. Gastroesophageal reflux disease is one of the most common chronic disorders seen in adults. It has been reported that GERD affects an estimated 19 million individuals in the US alone.

Adequate treatment of GERD should either prevent repeated reflux of stomach contents into the oesophagus or reduce the damaging effects of stomach acid. Acid suppression remains the most effective way to relieve symptoms and to promote healing in patients with GERD.

In a recent article published in Therapeutics and Clinical Risk Management, it was found that most studies recommended initially using a drug known as a proton pump inhibitor, or PPI, as first line treatment. PPIs such as pantoprazole (Somac) work by blocking acid discharge into the stomach, and therefore decreasing acid levels in the stomach. The article compiled results of major studies which showed PPI treatment to be the most effective agents for treating GERD. PPIs provide more rapid symptom control and better healing than other therapies, and are also associated with a low rate of drug reactions.

Pantoprazole (Somac) was found to have one of the lowest risks of drug interactions, with omeprazole having the highest risk. At higher doses, oral pantoprazole was also found to be the most effective PPI in healing erosive oesophagitis, a severe complication of GERD. In the longer term treatment of GERD, pantoprazole and other PPIs such as rabeprazole was found to relieve symptoms as well as decrease the chance of progression to more severe GERD associated diseases. When compared to esomeprazole in a study of PPIs used only when symptoms occur, pantoprazole provided significantly more symptom relief. Especially in the elderly population, pantoprazole was found to be more effective than previously recommended medications such as ranitidine.

In elderly patients, it is crucial that interactions with other drugs are considered, as unfavourable events are more likely to this population. The interaction profiles of omeprazole and pantoprazole have been studied most extensively: omeprazole carries a considerable potential for drug interactions, whereas pantoprazole appears to have lower potential for interactions with other medications.

Results of numerous clinical trials indicate that oral pantoprazole is safe and well tolerated for both short-term treatment of GERD and for longer term therapy. The article therefore confirms that PPIs are accepted as the most effective treatment for GERD. PPIs provide more rapid symptom control and better healing of than previously used therapies such as antacids. The data reviewed here show that oral pantoprazole (Somac) is a safe, well tolerated and effective initial and maintenance treatment. It has been shown to improve the quality of life of patients with GERD and is associated with high levels of patient satisfaction with therapy. In the elderly population where GERD is more common and severe, pantoprazole has also shown to be an effective and safe treatment for this at-risk population.