A Randomized, Controlled, Crossover Trial to Investigate Times to Onset of the Perception of Soothing and Cooling by Over-The-Counter Heartburn Treatments

Abstract

This was a randomized, controlled, four-way crossover study in 45 subjects with a tendency to suffer from moderate heartburn following some meals. The study was designed to assess the time to onset of the perceived soothing and cooling effects of the alginate raft-forming products, Gaviscon Liquid (peppermint), Gaviscon Double Action Liquid (peppermint) and Gaviscon Powder Formulation (fresh tropical), compared with a non-active sublingual control. All three Gaviscon products provided significantly faster soothing and cooling effects compared with the control. Based on the upper 95% confidence limits for the median, time to onset of soothing was perceived within 3.15 min, 3.08 min and 4.05 min for Gaviscon Liquid, Double Action Liquid and Powder Formulation, respectively. Similarly, time to onset of cooling was perceived within 1.95 min, 1.23 min and 11.22 min for Gaviscon Liquid, Double Action Liquid and Powder Formulation, respectively. The results show that Gaviscon Liquid and Gaviscon Double Action soothe within 3.15 min and cool within 1.95 min.

Alginate antacid (Gaviscon DA) chewable tablets reduce esophageal acid exposure in Chinese patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease and heartburn symptoms

“…Esophageal pH increased almost immediately after dosing with Liquid Gaviscon and the greatest effects were seen over the first hour . Similarly, studies investigating the onset of perceived symptom relief with Gaviscon alginate antacid formulations indicate that patients can experience relief within 5–15 minutes of taking these medications …”

“…20 Similarly, studies investigating the onset of perceived symptom relief with Gaviscon alginate antacid formulations indicate that patients can experience relief within 5-15 minutes of taking these medications. [17][18][19] This mechanistic study was designed to quantify the effects of DA alginate antacid treatment over a 4-h post-prandial period. Unlike PPI and other anti-reflux medications, alginate-based formulations act nonsystemically within the proximal stomach and esophagus and are cleared by gastric emptying within a few hours after a meal.…”

“…Importantly, alginate antacids are also fast‐acting, with some patients reporting the relief of symptoms as rapidly as 3–15 min after taking the medication . Consistent with their mode of action, alginate antacid formulations have been shown to exert their greatest effects within the first hour after dosing, with effects that can last for up to 4 h …”

“…14,16 Importantly, alginate antacids are also fast-acting, with some patients reporting the relief of symptoms as rapidly as 3-15 min after taking the medication. [17][18][19] Consistent with their mode of action, alginate antacid formulations have been shown to exert their greatest effects within the first hour after dosing, 20 with effects that can last for up to 4 h. [17][18][19][20] Ambulatory pH monitoring provides direct and objective physiological measurements of esophageal acid exposure 21 and is a standard method for evaluating acid-suppressive treatments for GERD 22 . Gaviscon Double Action (Gaviscon DA; Reckitt Benckiser Healthcare [UK] Limited, Hull, United Kingdom) is an alginate antacid formulation 23 approved for the treatment of acid-related symptoms of GER such as acid regurgitation and heartburn.…”

Alginates in therapy for gastroesophageal reflux disease

“…Поскольку эффект ИПП наступает не сразу, и может пройти несколько дней, прежде чем симптомы исчезнут, больной может расценить назначенное лечение как неэффективное и отказаться от него. Между тем однократный прием альгинатного препарата Геви-скон купирует изжогу в среднем через 3,3 мин [24]. Поэтому на начальном этапе лечения ИПП следует сочетать с альгинатами.…”