[Symptomatic therapy with famotidine in non-erosive gastro-esophageal reflux. Results of an open multicenter study]

180 patients suffering from frequent heartburn and endoscopically normal oesophageal mucosa or mild non-erosive oesophagitis entered an open, multicentre study to evaluate the 6-week safety profile and efficacy on symptom relief of famotidine (CAS 76824-35-6, Pepdul mite), a potent and long-acting H2-receptor antagonist. By week 6 the cumulative percentage of patients with defined response, that is complete relief of heartburn in 5 days and only mild discomfort in the remaining 2 days of a week, reached 68.9%, whereas the cumulative percentage of patients with complete relief of heartburn within a week reached 52.7%. Throughout the evaluation period famotidine relieved nighttime heartburn better than daytime heartburn. More than 75% of the responders remained without recurrence. Even the non-responders experienced a 60-70% reduction of heartburn severity assessed using scores. Antacid consumption was reduced from 18 tablets (median) in week 0 to 5 tablets in week 6. 90% of the patients reported at week 6 excellent (67.2%) or moderate (22.8%) symptomatic improvement. No serious adverse events attributable to famotidine occurred. It is concluded that in patients with non-erosive gastro-oesophageal reflux disease famotidine therapy, 20 mg twice daily, is highly effective in reducing reflux disease symptoms.