Felodipine does not increase the reflux episodes in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease

Background/Aims: Calcium channel blocking agents have been reported to incr ease the risk of gastroesophageal reflux. However, whether felodipine, a ne wer calcium channel blocker, increases reflux episodes and decreases esopha geal acid clearance in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease has ne ver been studied. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate whether felodipine increases the incidence of gastroesophageal reflux in patients w ith gastroesophageal reflux disorder. Methodology: Nine patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease, 6 men and 3 women, with a mean age of 62.6+/-14.4 years (range: 37-80 years) were stu died. They received ambulatory esophageal pH monitoring for 45.7-48 hours ( mean: 47.1+/-0.8 hours). Various pH parameters were evaluated during a simi lar interval of monitoring time before and after receiving 5mg of felodipin e. Results: No significant difference was noted:in any pH parameter by the Wil coxon signed Ranks test, including reflux episodes (P=0.552), reflux episod es longer than 5min (P=0.683), esophageal acid clearance (P=0.663) and frac tion time of pH <4(P=0.752) before and after the use of felodipine. Conclusions: Felodipine does not-increase reflux episodes or impair esophag eal acid clearance in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease.