ZEGERID’s effectiveness in controlling nocturnal gastric acidity when dosed at bedtime is intriguing and worthy of further study,” said Donald Castell, MD,

“The goal of PPI use in the evening is to reduce nocturnal gastric acidity, which reduces the possibility of acid reflux in patients with GERD,” Dr. Castell added.

Dr. Castell is professor of medicine and director, Esophageal Disorders Program at the Medical University of South Carolina, and is past president of the American Gastroenterological Association.

In this study, 36 patients with nighttime symptoms of GERD participated in an open-label, randomized crossover trial. The patients received repeated evening doses of either ZEGERID or Protonix for one week, followed by twice-daily dosing for one day. After a washout period, patients were treated with the alternative drug, following the same schedule.

During once-daily dosing, ZEGERID was administered at bedtime; however, reflecting current practice for evening dosing of delayed-release PPIs, Protonix was administered before dinner. During twice-daily dosing, both drugs were administered before breakfast and at bedtime. The protocol allowed 18 patients to return for additional once-daily dosing of ZEGERID 40 mg on six consecutive days, with 24-hour pH monitoring beginning at the last dose. Gastric acidity was calculated separately over an 8-hour nighttime interval and over 24 hours.

Measurements included median gastric pH, percentage of time gastric pH was greater than 4 and percentage of patients with nocturnal acid breakthrough (NAB), defined as the occurrence of continuous gastric pH of less than 4 for more than one hour during the night while receiving PPI therapy. The amount of time that pH is greater than 4 is a parameter frequently used to evaluate the clinical effects of treatment with PPIs in patients with acid-related diseases.

Data from 32 patients were available for analysis. After repeated once-daily dosing, ZEGERID 40 mg produced significantly better nocturnal gastric acid control than Protonix 40 mg: median gastric pH was 4.7 vs. 2.0; the time with gastric pH greater than 4 was 55 percent vs. 27 percent; and patients with NAB totaled 53 percent vs. 78 percent (P less than or equal to 0.005 for all comparisons). After twice-daily dosing of ZEGERID 40 mg and Protonix 40 mg, respectively: median gastric pH was 6.5 vs. 1.5; the time with gastric pH greater than 4 was 92 percent vs. 37 percent; and patients with NAB totaled 12 percent vs. 71 percent (P less than or equal to 0.002 for all comparisons).

Once-daily bedtime dosing of ZEGERID 40 mg also achieved better nocturnal gastric acid control than twice-daily dosing of Protonix 40 mg: median gastric pH was 4.7 vs. 1.7 (P less than 0.001); the time with gastric pH greater than 4 was 55 percent vs. 34 percent (P less than 0.001); and patients with NAB totaled 53 percent vs. 75 percent (P = 0.035). In addition, ZEGERID 40 mg dosed once-daily achieved similar 24-hour pH control as Protonix 40 mg dosed twice-daily.

Important Safety Information

ZEGERID Powder for Oral Suspension 40 mg is indicated for reduction of risk of upper GI bleeding in critically ill patients and short-term treatment (four to eight weeks) of active benign gastric ulcers. ZEGERID Powder for Oral Suspension 20 mg is indicated for short-term treatment of active duodenal ulcers, for heartburn and other symptoms associated with GERD, for short-term treatment (four to eight weeks) of erosive esophagitis diagnosed by endoscopy, and for maintenance of healing of erosive esophagitis (controlled studies do not extend beyond 12 months). ZEGERID is contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to any components of the formulation.

The most frequently reported adverse events with ZEGERID are headache, diarrhea and abdominal pain. Symptomatic response to therapy does not preclude the presence of gastric malignancy. Atrophic gastritis has been noted occasionally in gastric corpus biopsies from patients treated long term with omeprazole. In critically ill patients treated with ZEGERID, adverse events generally reflected the serious, underlying medical condition of the patients, and were similar for patients treated with ZEGERID and with the comparator (acid-controlling) drug.

ZEGERID contains 460 mg sodium per dose in the form of sodium bicarbonate (1680 mg/20 mEq), which should be considered for patients on a sodium-restricted diet. Sodium bicarbonate is contraindicated in patients with metabolic alkalosis and hypocalcemia.

Even though there have been several scientific advances made when it comes to treating acid reflux, many people still find that herbal acid reflux remedies are still the most common way for treating this disorder naturally. You can use ingredients that are readily available in the kitchen.

A lot of people will find these kinds of remedies as being economical and will feel comfortable when using them as they often do not feel as they have an illness. In this article we look at a number of different ways herbs can be used in order to treat acid reflux.

Certainly one of the most common ways for treating acid reflux is through the use of herbal teas. These help to lower the amount of acid found in the stomach and so helps to relieve the symptoms associated with excess acid.

One of the most simple kinds of herbal teas a person can produce at home for themselves is one that contains a teaspoon of aniseed, lavender and peppermint. These are then placed into a cup where 2 1/2 cups of boiling water are then poured over the herbs. You now allow the tea to seep for about 5 minutes before you strain it. If you are someone who likes their drinks a little sweet then you can include a little honey to the tea after it has been strained. It is important that you drink around 8 ounces of this tea first thing in the morning and the same again in the evening.

Another very simple way of treating acid reflux is through eating pineapple. This particular fruit contains an enzyme which helps to reduce the inflammation caused by acid reflux as well as helps to heal the damage that the acid has caused. There is one particular enzyme found in pineapples called Bromelain which reduces the amount of protein found in the food a person eats and will then help to make digestion of this food much easier.

One other herbal acid reflux treatment you may want to consider using is called chicory root tea. This is a very old herbal acid reflux remedy and in order to make this you will need to boil 1 1/2 cups of chicory root(which you should be able to get through your local health food store or a good quality grocery store or even online) for around about 10 minutes. Then leave it to cool down. Once it is cooled you can then drink this tea in order to help relieve the symptoms associated with acid reflux.

Article Source: http://www.kokkada.com

Ricky highly recommends using herbal acid reflux remedies. Visit his site for the best herbal teas for acid reflux and more.

According to the advertising, to solve the “problem” of Acid Reflux, simply take pills or capsules that neutralize this stomach acid.

Sounds pretty logical. Acid Reflux is a doctorese name for excess stomach acid coming back into the esophagus. (Common people call it “heartburn”.)

In most cases, this “theory is FALSE! Heartburn is most commonly caused by too little stomach acid (Hydrochloric).

What happens is that with too little stomach acid in the beginning, the digestive process doesn’t breakdown the food, and this sends an urgent message. “Send more acid”.

So, more acid is sent, and now there’s too much, and so we have excess acid. This same routine goes on and on, and eventually, it helps wear away the valve at the bottom of the esophagus. NOW, we have Acid Reflux.

The secret for virtually all persons prone to heartburn is simple. Take a cheap digestive pill that contains “Betaine”, along with digestive enzymes before meals. Betaine is another word for hydrochloric acid in small amounts. Such tablets or capsules may be found in all health food stores. The digestive enzymes also help in digestion, and the combination stops the call for more acid.

The upshot is that the food in the stomach is processed, as it should be in the system. It’s then passed on down the digestive canal for further digestion in a proper form. By using antacids to reduce the stomach acid, the digestion process in the stomach doesn’t usually get done correctly. This causes other problems along the process.

Many of the advertised products contain calcium. Yes, it’s true that you do need calcium – BUT – all too often too much calcium in the blood stream causes other problems. These include calcium deposits in various parts of the body, including the arteries (it’s the basic strength of plaque), lungs and joints, and even breasts. Let’s not forget those very painful kidney stones or gallstones.

Most doctors who aren’t educated in nutrition poorly understand this whole calcium problem. It seems that a BALANCE of calcium and magnesium is the key to proper amounts, and our culture leads us to calcium excess. As a group, we eat way too much milk products, meat, and to little leafy vegetables, so the balance is tipped into calcium excess.

Add to this the very low amount of vitamin C that most of us get, and this excess calcium can’t get out of the body easily. Vitamin C combines with minerals in the blood, and by making them water-soluble, removes them via the urine pathway. It’s interesting that zoo doctors all agree on approximately 4 grams (4000 mg) of vitamin C per day for a 150 pound ape to stay healthy. We have the exact same needs and body mechanisms as apes.

Acid Reflux is a real problem for those with damaged esophagus valves, because it can back up and, unlike the stomach, the esophagus has no acid resistant lining, so it can be severely damaged.

In such cases, eating sitting or even standing up is a necessity. The damage has already been done, and now simple prevention of further damage is required. Do not eat within 2 hours or more of bedtime.

In case you are subject to (even occasional) heartburn, do NOT take drugs or calcium pills AFTER eating, but do take digestive tablets BEFORE eating. It’s a much better long-range solution for your health!

Phil Bate PhD – Retired Orthomolecular Psychologist
Inventor and Patent Pending Holder for
Brain Wave Amplitude Changing via Auditory Training
http://BateAudio.com
http://AuditoryBrainWaveTraining.com

Article Source: http://www.kokkada.com

Retired Orthomolecular Psychologist – Inventor and patent holder of “Brain Wave Amplitude Change via Subliminal Training”. full resume at: AuditoryBrainWaveTraining.com or at: Alternate-Health.com