OMEPRAZOLE - A PROMISING ANTIULCER DRUG IN HORSES

After repeated daily doses or one high dose, omeprazole is a potent in hibitor of gastric acid secretion in horses. Given in the form of dela yed-release capsules, the agent evidently aids in the healing of gastr ic ulcers in clinical cases. As the first acid-pump inhibitor, omepraz ole represents a new class of antiulcer drugs. By regulating the last step in the production of hydrochloric acid in parietal cells, the age nt inhibits gastric acid secretion. Chemically, omeprazole is a substi tuted benzimidazole with a sustained duration of action. Unlike cimeti dine and ranitidine, omeprazole reaches therapeutic effect when given once a day. The drug uniquely binds to and decreases the activity of t he enzyme that catalyzes the exchange of cytosolic hydrogen ions for l uminal potassium ions. As a result of the affinity of omeprazole for t he gastric parietal cell, the agent does not affect proton pumps locat ed in other cellular systems. The antisecretory effect of omeprazole i s dose dependent and increases with each dose until the drug attains a steady state of inhibition. Omeprazole is a highly specific inhibitor of gastric acid secretion with a unique mechanism of action, providin g control of basal and stimulated secretion.