DOCTOR'S VIEWS ARCHIVE
Topic: Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), June 2000
Dr. Lee:
A viewer wants to know
whether ranitidine (Zantac) can be more effective than Prilosec in controlling
acid reflux in some patients?
Dr. Marks:
Prilosec Prevacid, Aciphex are proton pump inhibitors (PPI), drugs that are
very effective in shutting down acid production by the stomach. Prilosec and
other PPI drugs are most effective during the day, especially after meals. That
is why they are taken just prior to meals. However, PPIs don't work as well at night.
Ranitidine (Zantac) is a H2-receptor-blocker.
Generally H2-receptor-blockers are not as effective as the PPI drugs
in suppressing stomach acid production. However, Zantac and other
H2-receptor blockers work particularly well at night.
Therefore maximal round the clock acid suppression is achieved by
using a PPI such as Prilosec two or three times a day before meals and a
H2-receptor-blocker such as Zantac at bedtime.
Dr. Lee:
Ranitidine (Zantac) is a H2
receptor blocker related to Tagamet, Pepcid and Axid, whereas Prilosec is a proton
pump inhibitor (or PPI) related to Prevacid, Aciphex and Protonix.
Dr. Marks:
That's correct.
Dr. Lee:
So these are the two classes of drugs,
H2 receptor blockers, Zantac is one of them, and proton pump inhibitors,
Prilosec is one of them.
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Last Editorial Review: 6/29/2000 3:16:00 PM
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