IN SINGLE DOSES RANITIDINE EFFERVESCENT IS MORE EFFECTIVE THAN LANSOPRAZOLE IN DECREASING GASTRIC-ACIDITY

Background: A rapid and reproducible decrease of gastric acidity is pr eferable in patients with penetrating/perforating peptic ulcers and in on-demand treatment of some patients with dyspepsia. The present stud y was done to compare the effect of single doses of ranitidine efferve scent with that of the proton pump inhibitor lansoprazole. Method: Twe lve healthy young volunteers were studied by Il-h intragastric continu ous pH recording after the intake of ranitidine 150 or 300 mg efferves cent tablets or lansoprazole 30 mg capsules. Trial medications were ta ken with 200 mt water, and the subjects remained fasting apart from 25 0 mt fluid at 4 h, Results: Ranitidine effervescent, both 150 and 300 mg, induced a rapid and persisting increase in gastric pH in most of t he subjects, whereas a single dose of lansoprazole 30 mg did not affec t intragastric pH in five of the twelve subjects. Conclusion: The hist amine H-2-blocker ranitidine given as an effervescent formulation is s uperior to the proton pump inhibitor lansoprazole in inducing a rapid decrease of gastric acidity.