Abstract
BACKGROUND: Symptomatic breakthrough in proton pump inhibitor (PPI)-treated gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD) patients is a common problem with a range of underlying causes. The nonsystemic, raft-forming action of alginates may help resolve symptoms.
AIM: To assess alginate-antacid (Gaviscon Double Action, RB, Slough, UK) as add-on therapy to once-daily PPI for suppression of breakthrough reflux symptoms.
METHODS: In two randomised, double-blind studies (exploratory, n=52; confirmatory, n=262), patients taking standard-dose PPI who had breakthrough symptoms, assessed by Heartburn Reflux Dyspepsia Questionnaire (HRDQ), were randomised to add-on Gaviscon or placebo (20 mL after meals and bedtime). The exploratory study endpoint was change in HRDQ score during treatment vs run-in. The confirmatory study endpoint was "response" defined as ≥3 days reduction in the number of "bad" days (HRDQ [heartburn/regurgitation] >0.70) during treatment vs run-in.
RESULTS: In the exploratory study, significantly greater reductions in HRDQ scores (heartburn/regurgitation) were observed in the Gaviscon vs placebo (least squares mean difference [95% CI] -2.10 [-3.71 to -0.48]; P=.012). Post hoc "responder" analysis of the exploratory study also revealed significantly more Gaviscon patients (75%) achieved ≥3 days reduction in "bad" days vs placebo patients (36%), P=.005. In the confirmatory study, symptomatic improvement was observed with add-on Gaviscon (51%) but there was no significant difference in response vs placebo (48%) (OR (95% CI) 1.15 (0.69-1.91), P=.5939).
CONCLUSIONS: Adding Gaviscon to PPI reduced breakthrough GERD symptoms but a nearly equal response was observed for placebo. Response to intervention may vary according to whether symptoms are functional in origin.
Original language | English |
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Journal | Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics |
Volume | 45 |
Issue number | 12 |
Pages (from-to) | 1524-1533 |
ISSN | 0269-2813 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Jun 2017 |
Keywords
- Adult
- Aged
- Alginates/administration & dosage
- Aluminum Hydroxide/administration & dosage
- Antacids/administration & dosage
- Anti-Ulcer Agents/administration & dosage
- Breakthrough Pain/drug therapy
- Double-Blind Method
- Drug Combinations
- Female
- Gastroesophageal Reflux/drug therapy
- Heartburn/drug therapy
- Humans
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Proton Pump Inhibitors/administration & dosage
- Silicic Acid/administration & dosage
- Sodium Bicarbonate/administration & dosage
- Treatment Outcome