INITIAL AND CHRONIC GASTRIC-ACID INHIBITION BY LANSOPRAZOLE AND OMEPRAZOLE IN RELATION TO MEAL ADMINISTRATION

In a placebo-controlled, double-blind, multiple crossover study, the i nitial and chronic acid-inhibitory effect of lansoprazole 30 mg, orall y administered half an hour before breakfast or immediately after brea kfast, and of omeprazole 20 mg, administered postprandially, respectiv ely, was investigated in 16 healthy volunteers, using ambulant 24-hr i ntragastric pH monitoring. On the first day of medication, only prepra ndially administered lansoprazole reduced acid secretion significantly (median 24-hr pH 3.0; P < 0.05). On day 15, the median 24-hr intragas tric pH of lansoprazole preprandial (pH 4.1), lansoprazole postprandia l (pH 4.3), and omeprazole postprandial (pH 3.3), respectively, differ ed significantly (P < 0.05) from placebo (pH 1.2). It is concluded tha t the interaction between food intake and lansoprazole administration only is important at the start of oral therapy. Lansoprazole taken bef ore breakfast is effective even on the initial day of treatment.