Patterns of 24-hour oesophageal acid exposure after acute withdrawal of acid suppression.
OBJECTIVE
To measure 24-h ambulatory oesophageal pH data in patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease prior to, during and after acute treatment with comparable doses of omeprazole and ranitidine.


METHODS
The subjects were 20 adults with at least 8% acid contact time. Ten subjects were treated for 1 week with omeprazole 20 mg q.d.s. and 10 subjects with ranitidine 300 mg t.d.s. All subjects were examined at the end of 1 week of therapy and subsequent to cessation of treatment (1 day for ranitidine and 3 days for omeprazole).


RESULTS
Both drugs produced a statistically significant (P < 0.05) decrease in acid contact time with acute treatment. Omeprazole produced a significantly greater decrease in acid contact time when compared to ranitidine. Subsequent to treatment cessation, the total acid contact time for omeprazole remained significantly less than the baseline level, while ranitidine returned to levels which were not significantly different from the baseline.


CONCLUSIONS
These data provide no evidence for a 'reflux rebound' subsequent to the cessation of acute acid secretory suppression.
Orr
W C
WC
Institute for Healthcare Research, Baptist Medical Centre of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City 73112, USA.
Mellow
M H
MH
Grossman
M R
MR
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004947:Esophagus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005744:Gastric Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D006635:Histamine H2 Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009853:Omeprazole / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011899:Ranitidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D006635:Histamine H2 Antagonists; D011899:Ranitidine; D009853:Omeprazole