[Omeprazole in the therapy of acid-induced diseases]

Omeprazole is a substituted benzimidazole which inhibits profoundly and long-lasting human acid secretion. The maximum inhibition effect of omeprazole begins after 3-5 days treatment. Even after 28 days application no significant rebound effects were seen after withdrawal from the medication. Omeprazole was clinically tested on several thousand patients. The daily doses of 20 mg to 60 mg in cases of duodenal ulcer led to healing rates of 60-100% after 14 days. In direct comparative studies omeprazole was superior in cases of duodenal ulcers to cimetidine and ranitidine. With regard to gastric ulcers identical successful results were seen with 20 mg omeprazole daily as with 2 X 150 mg ranitidine daily. Omeprazole was also superior to H2-blockers in the treatment of erosive reflux-oesophagitis. Results from long-term therapy with the exception of Zollinger-Ellison syndrome are not yet available. In the clinical studies, omeprazole proved to be well tolerated. Its definite place in the management of peptic ulcer disease, however, remains to clearly established.