Alternate-day therapy with omeprazole for duodenal ulcer

Maximal acid suppression produced by a single dose of 20 mg omeprazole has been reported to persist for over 24 hours, with acid secretion returning to normal after 2 days.

(i) To study the effect of single oral dose of 20 mg omeprazole on maximal acid output (MAO) and peak acid output (PAO) in duodenal ulcer patients and healthy volunteers. (ii) To compare the efficacy of omeprazole 20 mg daily versus 20 mg on alternate days in the treatment of duodenal ulcer.

Open randomized comparative trial.

MAO and PAO were estimated in five duodenal ulcer patients and five healthy volunteers before, and 24 hours and 48 hours after, a single 20 mg oral dose of omeprazole. Fifty eight consecutive uncomplicated duodenal ulcer patients were randomized to receive omeprazole 20 mg either daily (n = 30) or on alternate days (n = 28) for four weeks. The two groups were matched for age, sex, duration of ulcer symptoms, smoking, NSAID use, and ulcer size at entry. Symptom scores using a pre-defined scoring system and endoscopic ulcer healing rates were evaluated at 2 and 4 weeks.

MAO and PAO showed significant reduction in both duodenal ulcer patients and healthy controls 24 hours after 20 mg omeprazole. Reduction at 48 hours was significant in duodenal ulcer patients but not in controls. Endoscopic healing rates of duodenal ulcer at 2 and 4 weeks were 80% and 93.3% respectively in the daily treatment group and 71.4% and 85.7% respectively in the alternate-day treatment group. These differences were not statistically significant.

20 mg omeprazole on alternate days is as effective as 20 mg daily (i) in suppressing MAO and PAO and (ii) in the treatment of duodenal ulcer.