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A combination
of the proton pump inhibitor Aciphex® (rabeprazole sodium)
and antibiotics appears to clear up infections with H. pylori,
the most common cause of peptic ulcers, in seven days as effectively
as a 10-day treatment with Prilosec® (omeprazole) and
antibiotics, according to researchers.
A study,
conducted at 47 centers nationwide, looked at 803 patients
infected with H. pylori (Helicobacter pylori). Approximately
half of the patients had either an active peptic ulcer or
a history of the disease.
The patients
were treated with either three days of rabeprazole, amoxicillin
and clarithromycin (RAC); seven days of RAC; ten days of RAC;
or 10 days of omeprazole, amoxicillin and clarithromycin (OAC).
The goal of the study was to see whether three-, seven- or
ten-day RAC treatment was as effective as 10-day
treatment with OAC in eradicating H. Pylori.
Eighty-four
percent of the patients treated with rabeprazole, amoxicillin
and clarithromycin were free of H. pylori after seven days
of treatment and 86 percent were cleared in 10 days. Eighty-two
percent of the patients given omeprazole, amoxicillin and
clarithromycin were free of H. pylori after ten days.
The three-day
Aciphex, amoxicillin and clarithromycin treatment was not
proven effective.
Source:
Medical Week staff,
week of May 12,
2002
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