LANSOPRAZOLE CAPSULES AND AMOXICILLIN ORAL SUSPENSION IN THE TREATMENT OF PEPTIC-ULCER DISEASE

Background: Lansoprazole is a potent antisecretory drug also possessin g anti-Helicobacter pylori activity in vitro. It is a candidate drug f or combination regimens with antibiotics for treating H. pylori infect ions. Methods: In a semiblind study, 65 patients with duodenal and/or gastric ulcer and pathologic C-14 urea breath rest results were treate d with either 60 mg lansoprazole every morning only for 14 days or com bined with 500 mg amoxicillin oral suspension four times daily between meals, given for 11 days. Endoscopy and breath test were repeated aft er 6 weeks and 6 months. Patients with unhealed ulcers were withdrawn. Results: Eradication of H. pylori infection was attained in 46% of pa tients receiving lansoprazole and amoxicillin but in no patient receiv ing lansoprazole alone. Ulcers healed significantly more often in thos e who were H. pylori-negative (18 of 19 (95%)) than in those who were H. pylori positive (20 of 41 (49%)). Adverse events, particularly stom atitis/sore throat and diarrhea, occurred significantly more often whe n amoxicillin was combined with lansoprazole. Conclusions: Lansoprazol e eradicated H. pylori infection only when combined with amoxicillin. Eradication rates in this study are hardly acceptable, and further stu dies are necessary to define optimal doses and duration of treatment. Using amoxicillin as an oral suspension may not be of any substantial benefit and may cause stomatitis and sore throat.