Treatments for GORD sufferers help improve sleep

Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, or GORD, is a chronic gastro-intestinal disorder, affecting up to one-third of adults. GORD is characterised by reflux of the stomach contents into the oesophagus, oropharynx, larynx, or airway and is associated with heartburn, acid regurgitation, and indigestion. Patients will often report symptoms that can include chest pain, nausea, coughing and back pain. Night-time symptoms can severely disrupt sleep and can result in daytime fatigue and lowered mood. Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are medications that can be used to reduce or suppress acid production in the stomach. Acid suppression remains the most effective way to relieve symptoms and to promote healing of oesophagitis in patients with GORD.

A recently published article has reviewed the effectiveness of a popular PPI in the treatment of a variety of GORD symptoms. This paper, published in the Journal of Clinical Drug Investigation, assessed the effectiveness of pantoprazole (Somac). The review reported on unpublished, recent research that has used a newly devised questionnaire to measure GORD symptoms. The ReQuest^TM questionnaire allows patients to self-report changes on a broad range of GORD-related symptoms on a daily basis. The author claimed that the ReQuest ^TM questionnaire was superior to other questionnaires because it allows patients to report a wider variety of GORD symptoms, including the effects on patients’ perceived quality of life.

Using the ReQuest questionnaire, pantoprazole (Somac) was assessed on many factors including relief of symptoms, effect on night-time symptoms as well as immediacy of effect (how quickly relief from symptoms occurred). For the relief of most daytime symptoms, pantoprazole (Somac) was found to be very effective. For the relief of nighttime symptoms, the author has cited preliminary evidence to suggest that pantoprazole (Somac) is highly effective. This finding led the authors to suggest that pantoprazole (Somac) should be considered for sufferers of night-time symptoms of GORD.

The review also reported research using patients with a more severe disease; erosive oesophagitis. Pantoprazole (Somac) was reported to be effective at decreasing the intensity of GORD symptoms in this patient group. In particular, oesophageal lesions almost completely healed for patients taking pantoprazole (Somac).

Another recent review of PPI treatment for night-time symptoms of GORD has supported the use of pantoprazole (Somac). Pantopramazole (Somac) suppressed acid production, was fast acting and had few interactions with other medications.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GORD) is a chronic disease that can progress to a range of potentially serious oesophageal complications from oesophageal ulcers through to oesophageal cancer. Adequate treatment of this disease and its complications should either prevent repeated reflux of gastric contents into the oesophagus or reduce the damaging effect of gastric acid. However, no pharmaceutical agent can fully correct the motor dysfunction responsible for acid reflux into the oesophagus.

If you are experiencing GORD-type symptoms, it is recommended that you discuss your treatment options in detail with your doctor to decide whether the medications described in this article are suited to you.

Reference:

1. Thomson ABR. The concept of complete remission of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease comparative efficacy of pantoprazole and esomeprazole using the ReQuestTM questionnaire, Clin Drug Invest 2007; 27(10): 663-672.
2. Orr W. Eur J of Gastroenterol & Hepatol 2005; 17:113–120