Acid Reflux - Ulcer News:

Study: Protonix® More Effective than Zantac® in Treating GERD

The drug Protonix® (pantoprazole) is more effective than Zantac® (ranitidine) in treating the symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), according to a study reported in the August 5 on-line edition of the journal Digestion.

Both Protonix and Zantac are indicated for the treatment of GERD, which involves an overproduction of acid by the stomach and also acid coming from the stomach into the esophagus, causing heart burn. Both medications work by decreasing the amount of acid produced in the stomach.

Protonix is from the proton pump family of drugs, while Zantac is in a class of drugs called histamine receptor antagonists.

Researchers from University Hospital in Bloemfontein, Germany, compared how well the two drugs relieved such key GERD symptoms as heartburn, acid eructation and pain on swallowing.

Study participants either received once daily doses of 20 milligrams of Protonix or 300 milligrams of Zantac.

Significantly more Protonix-treated patients (68 percent) were free from key gastrointestinal symptoms of GERD such as heartburn, acid eructation and pain on swallowing after taking the drug for four weeks than ranitidine-treated patients (43 percent).

Protonix was also significantly more effective in controlling other gastrointestinal symptoms of GERD, such as epigastric pain, vomiting, nausea, flatulence, retching, and retrosternal feeling of tightness. Both treatments were well tolerated.

Source: Medical Week staff, week of August 14,2004