[Comparison of the efficacy of Losec/Lómex and Zantac/Famex by continuous 24 hour gastric pH-metry.].
OBJECTIVE
The study proposes to investigate the pharmacological efficacy of four commonly used acid inhibitory drugs. The effect on 24 hour gastric pH of seven days treatment was assessed for two omeprazole preparations, Losec(R) 20 mg (Hassle) and Lómex(R) 20 mg, (Omega Farma) and two H2 blockers, famotidine 40 mg (Famex(R), Omega Farma) and ranitidine 300 mg (Zantac(R), Glaxo).


METHODS
Sixteen healthy volunteers participated in each experiment comparing blindly Losec(R) / Lómex(R) and Famex(R) / Zantac(R). The stomach was intubated with monocrystant antimony catheter and the pH sensor was placed 10 cm below the cardia. A 24 hour control pH-metry was performed followed by a 24 hour pH-metry on the seventh day of treatment with each drug.


RESULTS
All four drugs gave significant acid inhibition compared to control. Zantac treatment resulted in a pH over 3 for 8.8 hours and correspondingly Famex(R) treatment for 11.2 hours, Losec(R) treatment for 17.5 hours and Lómex(R) for 18.3 hours. Famex(R) gave significantly greater inhibition than Zantac(R) but the difference between Lómex(R) and Losec(R) was not significant.


CONCLUSIONS
The study shows the efficacy of com notmonly used acid lowering drugs on the Icelandic market. The relative efficacy is indicated by the fact that Zantac(R) increased the median time for pH over 3 by 2.6 hours, Famex(R) by 5.0 hours, Losec(R) by 11.3 hours and Lómex(R) by 12.1 hours.
Gudjonsson
H
H
Oddsson
E
E
Sigurdardottir
M
M
Thjodleifsson
B
B