simethicone and Esophagitis--Peptic

Fifty-three patients with symptomatic reflux oesophagitis were entered into a single centre randomized study comparing the effects of a dimethicone/antacid (Asilone Gel) and an alginate/antacid (Gaviscon liquid) on symptoms and endoscopic changes over an 8-week period. Both treatments significantly improved heartburn, acid regurgitation and flatulence. Dimethicone/antacid but not alginate/antacid, produced a significant improvement in oesophagitis, oesophageal ulceration and histological grade of inflammation over the 8-week treatment period so that 14 patients treated with dimethicone/antacid and 10 with alginate/antacid had normal endoscopic oesophageal appearances at the end of the study. The difference in improvement between the two patient groups did not reach significance however, except for dimethicone/antacid improving histological changes (P less than 0.05). These findings suggest that dimethicone/antacid and alginate/antacid are equally effective in treating symptomatic reflux oesophagitis although dimethicone/antacid may have an advantage in improving oesophageal histological appearances.

Topics: Adult; Alginates; Aluminum Hydroxide; Antacids; Bicarbonates; Dimethylpolysiloxanes; Double-Blind Method; Drug Combinations; Esophagitis, Peptic; Esophagus; Female; Humans; Magnesium Oxide; Male; Silicic Acid; Simethicone; Sodium Bicarbonate

Dimethicone is a common additive to antacids, although its value in the treatment of reflux oesophagitis is unproven. Its efficacy was assessed by comparing the effect of a dimethicone-containing antacid gel (Asilone Gel) with a simple antacid gel in a double-blind trial in 45 patients with reflux oesophagitis. Thirty-eight patients completed the eight-week course of therapy. Antacid therapy alone resulted in a significant improvement of both symptoms and oesophagitis in gastro-oesophageal reflux. The inclusion of dimethicone in the antacid gel preparation did not confer any benefit in terms of symptomatic assessment but did confer a small advantage with regard to objective markers of oesophageal inflammation, suggesting that a dimethicone-containing antacid is of value in the treatment of symptomatic gastro-oesophageal reflux.

Topics: Antacids; Clinical Trials as Topic; Double-Blind Method; Drug Therapy, Combination; Esophagitis, Peptic; Humans; Silicones; Simethicone

In an open safety-in-use study, the subjective effectiveness and taste acceptability of a new high-potency antacid product were compared to previous treatment in 109 patients presenting with upper gastro-intestinal disorders of functional origin. Severity of the dominant symptoms prior to treatment was compared with that of symptoms present during treatment. Sixty-seven per cent to 73% of upper gastro-intestinal tract symptoms were completely relieved. Eighty-three per cent versus 48% of patients seen in a private practice setting, as compared with the speciality practice, reported good to excellent results, with 92% versus 56% describing good to excellent taste acceptability. When compared with previous antacid therapy, 70% of the patients preferred the new high-potency formulation to the regular-strength products, for both effectiveness and taste. The incidence of product-related side-effects was low, with only 6.7% experiencing the diarrhoea or loose stools commonly associated with conventional products containing magnesium hydroxide.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aluminum Hydroxide; Antacids; Colonic Diseases, Functional; Constipation; Diarrhea; Drug Combinations; Drug Evaluation; Dyspepsia; Esophagitis, Peptic; Female; Gastritis; Humans; Magnesium; Magnesium Hydroxide; Male; Middle Aged; Silicones; Simethicone