A review of pharmacotherapy for treating gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

作者：Savarino Edoardo^*; Zentilin Patrizia; Marabotto Elisa; Bodini Giorgia; Della Coletta Marco; Frazzoni Marzio; de Bortoli Nicola; Martinucci Irene; Tolone Salvatore; Pellegatta Gaia; Savarino Vincenzo

来源：Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy, 2017, 18(13): 1333-1343.

DOI：10.1080/14656566.2017.1361407

• Antidepressants
• GERD
• medical therapy
• mucosa protective medications
• PPIs
• prokinetics
• reflux inhibitors

Introduction: Medical therapy of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is based on the use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) as first choice treatment. Despite their effectiveness, about 20-30% of patients report an inadequate response and alternative drugs are required.Areas covered: This review provides an overview of current pharmacotherapy for treating GERD by showing the results of PPIs, reflux inhibitors, antidepressants and mucosa protective medications.Expert opinion: Medical therapy of GERD does not definitely cure the disease, because even PPIs are not able to change the key factors responsible for it. However, they remain the mainstay of medical treatment, allowing us to alleviate symptoms, heal esophagitis and prevent complications in the majority of cases. Nevertheless, many patients do not respond, because acid does not play any pathogenetic role. Prokinetics and reflux inhibitors have the potential to control motor abnormalities, but the results of clinical trials are inconsistent. Antidepressant drugs are effective in specific subgroups of NERD patients with visceral hypersensitivity, but larger, controlled clinical studies are necessary. Protective drugs or medical devices have been recently adopted to reinforce mucosal resistance and preliminary trials have confirmed their efficacy either combined with or as add-on medication to PPIs in refractory patients.

• 出版日期2017