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

Wada T, Sasaki M, Kataoka H, Tanida S, Itoh K, Ogasawara N, Oshima T, Togawa S, Kubota E, Yamada T, Mori Y, Fujita F, Ohara H, Nakao H, Sobue S, Joh T, Itoh M

Department of Internal Medicine, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan.

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. AIM: To investigate the efficacy of famotidine and omeprazole in the treatment of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, especially non-erosive gastro-oesophageal reflux disease. PATIENTS AND 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. CONCLUSION: Famotidine and omeprazole were both effective in improving symptoms of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, particularly non-erosive gastro-oesophageal reflux disease.

Published 9 June 2005 in Aliment Pharmacol Ther, 21: 2-9.
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