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


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the efficacy of famotidine and omeprazole in the treatment of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, especially non-erosive gastro-oesophageal reflux disease.


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.


CONCLUSIONS
Famotidine and omeprazole were both effective in improving symptoms of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, particularly non-erosive gastro-oesophageal reflux disease.
Wada
T
T
Department of Internal Medicine, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan.
Sasaki
M
M
Kataoka
H
H
Tanida
S
S
Itoh
K
K
Ogasawara
N
N
Oshima
T
T
Togawa
S
S
Kubota
E
E
Yamada
T
T
Mori
Y
Y
Fujita
F
F
Ohara
H
H
Nakao
H
H
Sobue
S
S
Joh
T
T
Itoh
M
M
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D015738:Famotidine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006356:Heartburn / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009853:Omeprazole / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D015738:Famotidine; D009853:Omeprazole