title: [Symptomatic therapy with famotidine in non-erosive gastro-esophageal reflux. Results of an open multicenter study].
abstract: 180 patients suffering from frequent heartburn and endoscopically normal oesophageal mucosa or mild non-erosive oesophagitis entered an open, multicentre study to evaluate the 6-week safety profile and efficacy on symptom relief of famotidine (CAS 76824-35-6, Pepdul mite), a potent and long-acting H2-receptor antagonist. By week 6 the cumulative percentage of patients with defined response, that is complete relief of heartburn in 5 days and only mild discomfort in the remaining 2 days of a week, reached 68.9%, whereas the cumulative percentage of patients with complete relief of heartburn within a week reached 52.7%. Throughout the evaluation period famotidine relieved nighttime heartburn better than daytime heartburn. More than 75% of the responders remained without recurrence. Even the non-responders experienced a 60-70% reduction of heartburn severity assessed using scores. Antacid consumption was reduced from 18 tablets (median) in week 0 to 5 tablets in week 6. 90% of the patients reported at week 6 excellent (67.2%) or moderate (22.8%) symptomatic improvement. No serious adverse events attributable to famotidine occurred. It is concluded that in patients with non-erosive gastro-oesophageal reflux disease famotidine therapy, 20 mg twice daily, is highly effective in reducing reflux disease symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Zentrum für Innere Medizin, Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Heckers
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lübbecke
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000863:Antacids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal; D015738:Famotidine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D005773:Gastroscopy; D006356:Heartburn / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D000863:Antacids; D015738:Famotidine
vernacular_title: Symptomatische Therapie mit Famotidin bei nicht-erosiver gastro-ösophagealer Refluxkrankheit. Ergebnisse einer offenen multizentrischen Studie.