[Efficacy and tolerability of pantoprazole in the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease].

BACKGROUND

Proton pump inhibitors (PPI) are considered first-line therapies in the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and are prescribed frequently.

METHODS

In two non-interventional trials 3040 patients with GERD were treated with 20 mg/40 mg pantoprazole per day. Symptoms were assessed by the investigators as well as the patients by means of the symptom questionnaire ReQuest at study start and after 1 week of treatment with pantoprazole. Data were pooled and analysed.

RESULTS

At study start, 80% of patients had moderate/severe heartburn, 65% acid regurgitation, 20% painful swallowing and 32% suffered from moderate/severe steep dysfunction. After 1 week of treatment only 3.6% reported moderate/severe heartburn, 2.8% acid regurgitation, and 1.0% painful swallowing. Only 3.6% still suffered from sleep dysfunction. Improvement of symptoms was already observed after 1 to 2 days.

CONCLUSION

Treatment with pantoprazole not only reliefs typical daily core symptoms but also improves the hitherto hardly noted sleep dysfunction and can, hence, bring a recovery of quality of life.