Omeprazole but not cisapride is effective against heartburn

Most patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease are treated in primary care, but the effects of treatment in this population are not well investigated. On p 550 Hatlebakk et al report on a community based multicentre trial of 483 patients with heartburn who were randomised to treatment with either cisapride, omeprazole, or placebo for eight weeks. Control of heartburn after four and eight weeks was achieved in 71%-76% of patients receiving omeprazole. Cisapride was not significantly superior to placebo at any time, and adverse events were more common with cisapride. Acid suppression seems to be the first choice for empirical treatment of heartburn in patients in primary care.

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

Relevant Article

Heartburn treatment in primary care: randomised, double blind study for 8 weeks

Jan G Hatlebakk, Arild Hyggen, Per H Madsen, Per O Walle, Tom Schulz, Petter Mowinckel, Tomm Bernklev, and Arnold Berstad
BMJ 1999 319: 550-553. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]