Lansoprazole. A review of its pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties and its therapeutic efficacy in acid-related disorders.

Lansoprazole is an effective acid pump inhibitor acting at the final enzymatic step of the acid secretory pathway of the parietal cell, decreasing gastric acid secretion regardless of the primary stimulus. Results of short term (less than 8 weeks) clinical trials have shown lansoprazole to be significantly superior to placebo and ranitidine in the treatment of duodenal ulcer, both in the rate of healing and in overall healing at 4 weeks. Lansoprazole appears to heal duodenal ulcer more quickly than famotidine, and demonstrates slightly greater efficacy at 4 weeks, although both drugs appear to have equivalent efficacy overall. Gastric ulcers and reflux oesophagitis are also healed by lansoprazole 30 mg/day for 4 to 8 weeks, with healing rates after 8 weeks of approximately 85 to 95% for both indications. Lansoprazole appears to be superior to ranitidine and comparable to omeprazole in treating reflux oesophagitis. Furthermore, lansoprazole has relieved reflux symptoms more quickly than either ranitidine or omeprazole. Preliminary data also indicate that lansoprazole may be effective in the treatment of peptic ulcer disease and reflux oesophagitis refractory to H2-receptor antagonists, and in patients with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. While direct comparisons with omeprazole are limited, results suggest that lansoprazole, used for short term treatment, is at least as effective as omeprazole in the treatment of peptic ulcer and reflux oesphagitis. Lansoprazole has been well tolerated in short term clinical trials, with an incidence of adverse effects comparable with that of other agents in its therapeutic class. Trials assessing long term tolerability data are ongoing and will be required as part of the assessment of the safety profile, if lansoprazole is to be used prophylactically to prevent ulcer recurrence. Thus, by virtue of its ability to heal ulcers and rapidly relieve associated symptomatology, lansoprazole represents a useful alternative for the treatment of acid related disorders.