Comparative evaluation of itopride and domperidone in gastroesophageal reflux disease

Background: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) presents in various ways in terms of symptoms and severity. This study was conducted to assess the severity of GERD patients and to evaluate the effect of itopride and domperidone on symptoms and severity of GERD. Methods: A single-blind study was carried out in 70 patients. Group A (n=35) patients were kept on itopride therapy, 50 mg thrice a day before meal. Group B (n=35) patients were kept on domperidone therapy, 10 mg thrice a day before meal. Patients of both groups were given rabeprazole, 20 mg once a day for hyperacidity. Patients served their own control. Each patient was followed-up at 2 weeks interval up to 8 weeks. Results: The most common symptom was heartburn, present in 95.71% patients. Regurgitation was the next most common symptom (65.71%). The most common lesion seen endoscopically (according to Savary Miller classification) was grade I (38.57%). In 24.29% patient, only symptoms of GERD were present without any endoscopically visible mucosal injury. At the end of 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks, relief of symptoms was more with a combination of itopride and rabeprazole in comparison to the combination of domperidane and rabeprazole, but the difference was statistically insignificant. Healing rate at the end of 4th and 8th week was slight better with a combination of itopride and rabeprazole, but the difference again was statistically insignificant. Conclusion: Combination of itopride and rabeprazole showed insignificantly better results, both symptomatically and endoscopically in comparison to the combination of domperidone and rabeprazole.