Profile and assessment of GERD pharmacotherapy.

The choice of a medical therapy to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) centers around several factors, including the efficacy and safety of the agent and the severity of the patient's symptoms and complications. Although the efficacy of antacids and alginic acid has not been proven definitively in clinical trials, these agents are effective against mild GERD symptoms in clinical practice. Along with sucralfate, these agents are also useful in special populations, such as pregnant women, for whom acid-suppressive therapy may not be the best option.

Effects of Aluminum/Magnesium Hydroxide and Calcium Carbonate on Esophageal and Gastric pH in Subjects with Heartburn.

This single-blind crossover trial compared the effects of single oral doses of two antacids on esophageal and gastric pH in subjects with heartburn. Gastric and esophageal pH were assessed in 83 subjects from 1 h before to 4 h after a refluxogenic meal. Subjects received two chewable tablets of a high-potency aluminum/magnesium hydroxide [Al(OH)3/Mg(OH)2] formulation (Mylanta Double-Strength(TM)) or a calcium carbonate [CaCO3] formulation (Tums E-X(TM)), or placebo 1 h after the meal.