Drug therapy to suppress gastric acid secretion is commonly used in th
e management of dyspepsia, many patients taking such therapy over long
periods of time. An audit of patients on long-term (>12 months) acid-
suppression therapy was carried out in the two practices providing pri
mary healthcare to a town in Northeast England. Patients on continuous
therapy (>10 months' supply in the previous year) and intermittent th
erapy (6-10 months' supply in the previous year) were identified throu
gh computerised prescribing records. Their written and computer record
s were scrutinised to determine diagnosis, duration of therapy, use of
NSAIDs and other features. A total of 365 patients were identified (2
08 men, 157 women): 132 were on intermittent and 233 on continuous the
rapy. Of the total, 83% were over 45 years and one-fifth were taking N
SAIDs. Of the 310 patients investigated for their dyspepsia, only 250
had a positive diagnosis, of which duodenal ulcer (154) was the most c
ommon.