Omeprazole delays gastric emptying in healthy volunteers: an effect prevented by tegaserod.
BACKGROUND
Proton-pump inhibitors effectively suppress stomach acidity. They are widely used for treating gastro-oesophageal reflux disease and related conditions. While generally safe, omeprazole and other proton-pump inhibitors can delay gastric emptying.


OBJECTIVE
To test the hypothesis that tegaserod can normalize or prevent omeprazole-induced delay in gastric emptying.


METHODS
This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group study in 40 healthy male volunteers. After informed consent and screening, qualified volunteers were treated with unblinded omeprazole 20 mg b.d. and either blinded tegaserod 6 mg t.d.s. (active treatment group) or placebo-matching tegaserod t.d.s. (control group) for 14 days. Gastric emptying was assessed before and after treatment, using a scintigraphy method.


RESULTS
Omeprazole monotherapy significantly delayed gastric emptying expressed by duration of lag-phase (P < 0.007), time to gastric half-emptying (P < 0.003), and gastric retention of the meal at 60 (P < 0.002) and 120 min (P < 0.04) after its ingestion. Tegaserod taken together with omeprazole effectively prevented development of the above effects. Combined treatment was safe and well tolerated.


CONCLUSIONS
Concomitant administration of tegaserod 6 mg t.d.s. prevented development of the delayed gastric emptying induced by omeprazole monotherapy.
Tougas
G
G
McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
Earnest
D L
DL
Chen
Y
Y
Vanderkoy
C
C
Rojavin
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004347:Drug Interactions; D005746:Gastric Emptying / Q000187:drug effects*; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007211:Indoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D009853:Omeprazole / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D007211:Indoles; C105050:tegaserod; D009853:Omeprazole