PROGRESSive Withdrawal Esomeprazole and Acid-related Symptoms

Summary

Rebound acid hypersecretion (RAHS), defined as an increase in gastric acid secretion above pre-treatment levels after PPIs therapy is observed within two weeks after withdrawal of treatment and could theoretically lead to acid-related symptoms such as heartburn, acid regurgitation, or dyspepsia that might result in resumption of therapy. A plausible physiologic theory for the rebound phenomenon suggests that long-term, elevated gastric pH caused by blockage of the proton-pumps stimulates compensatory gastrin release. Interestingly, Reimer et al. demonstrated the occurrence of RAHS in healthy volunteers who had received eight weeks of esomperazole. The clinical symptoms occured in a different prevalence compared with placebo treated patients at ten weeks after withdrawal and until the end of the study (twelve weeks). Twenty to twenty-two percent of patients displayed symptoms ten or twelve weeks after having discontinued PPIs while they occured in 1.7-7% of placebo-treated patients. Efforts should be pursued to restrict PPI therapy use to patients likely to benefit from it. In this context, we propose to investigate the benefit of a progressive decrease in doses of esomeprazole compared to a sudden discontinuation. This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with 156 patients treated by esomeprazole 40mg since four weeks least, randomized to one week of placebo or one week of esomeprazole 20mg. We want to compare the prevalence of clinical gastrointestinal symptoms between patients with progressive discontinuation (one week of esomeprazole, 20mg, then discontinuation) or those with sudden discontinuation of esomeprazole 40mg.

Timeline

Start

2015-06

Primary completion

2023-12

Completion

2023-12

Publications

• Results Katz MH. Failing the acid test: benefits of proton pump inhibitors may not justify the risks for many users. Arch Intern Med. 2010 May 10;170(9):747-8. doi: 10.1001/archinternmed.2010.64. No abstract available.
• Results Waldum HL, Arnestad JS, Brenna E, Eide I, Syversen U, Sandvik AK. Marked increase in gastric acid secretory capacity after omeprazole treatment. Gut. 1996 Nov;39(5):649-53. doi: 10.1136/gut.39.5.649.
• Results Bjornsson E, Abrahamsson H, Simren M, Mattsson N, Jensen C, Agerforz P, Kilander A. Discontinuation of proton pump inhibitors in patients on long-term therapy: a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2006 Sep 15;24(6):945-54. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2036.2006.03084.x.

Drugs

Indications