Efficacy of famotidine and omeprazole in healing symptoms of non‐erosive gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease: randomized‐controlled study of gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease

• Published in: Alimentary pharmacology & therapeutics Vol. 21; no. s2; pp. 2 - 9
• Main Authors: Wada, T., Sasaki, M., Kataoka, H., Tanida, S., Itoh, K., Ogasawara, N., Oshima, T., Togawa, S., Kubota, E., Yamada, T., Mori, Y., Fujita, F., Ohara, H., Nakao, H., Sobue, S., Joh, T., Itoh, M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01-06-2005
• Subjects: Analysis of Variance; Anti-Ulcer Agents - administration & dosage; Drug Therapy, Combination; Famotidine - administration & dosage; Female; Gastroesophageal Reflux - drug therapy; Heartburn - etiology; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Omeprazole - administration & dosage; Quality of Life; Surveys and Questionnaires; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 0269-2813; 1365-2036
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2036.2005.02467.x

Summary
Background : The epidemiology and pathophysiology of non‐erosive gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease differs from erosive gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease. There is a possibility that non‐erosive gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease treatment requires a different regimen/approach but it is not yet acknowledged.
Aim : To investigate the efficacy of famotidine and omeprazole in the treatment of gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease, especially non‐erosive gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease.
Patients and methods : A randomized, open‐label trial was conducted. Fifty‐four gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease patients were assigned to treatment with famotidine at a dosage of 20 mg twice daily; or omeprazole, 20 mg once daily, for a period of 8 weeks. The Short Form‐36 Health Survey and Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale administered at baseline and after 8 weeks of treatment as well as a symptom questionnaire were conducted daily.
Results : Short Form‐36 revealed that gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease has severe impact on health‐related quality of life. Thirty‐nine subjects (77%) were endoscopically diagnosed as non‐erosive gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease. The mean Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale abdominal pain, and indigestion score of non‐erosive gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease significantly improved in famotidine‐treated patients (P < 0.05), but not in the omeprazole. There was no significant change regarding improved heartburn symptoms of non‐erosive gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease between treatments in the daytime or night‐time.
Conclusion : Famotidine and omeprazole were both effective in improving symptoms of gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease, particularly non‐erosive gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease.