Omeprazole, Antibiotics Eradicate Helicobacter pylori

WESTPORT, Conn-A new report from the Une issu e of the European Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology shows a comnination of antibiotics and omeprazole is more effective than ranitidine in eliminating Heliocbater pylori within duodenal ulcers.

While most physicians recommend and use proton pump inhibitors with antibiotics to fight of the bacteria in gastric or duodenal ulcers, there is new data showing the efficacy of H2 receptor antagonists as antisecretory medications.

In an experiment comparing the effects of omeprazole and rantidine, both used in combination with the antibiotics amoxicillin and metronidazole, H. pylori was eradicated 87% in the first group and 77% in the second. Patients also reported faster pain reduction in the omeprazole group than the rantidine group.

Tolerance and side effects for the two drugs were nearly identical.

Information from www.givenimaging.com, Reuters Health