Comparing Omez and Ranitidine | Determining the best one

Gastritis, ulcers, functional dyspepsia – all these diseases of civilization, the inevitable payback of modern lifestyle. We eat on the go, prefer fast food, cook fried, spicy and salty – and put an excessive load on the digestive tract. Abdominal pain, heartburn, flatulence become common symptoms. The disease interferes with an active lifestyle, forces to sit on a diet and often leads to the development of complications.

To combat peptic ulcer disease, drugs that reduce the acidity of gastric juice have been developed. They reduce the production of hydrochloric acid, protect the mucous membrane from its aggressive effects, relieve the symptoms of the disease and prevent the development of complications. In clinical practice, two groups of drugs are usually used – proton pump inhibitors and blockers

-receptors. In this article, we will look at the popular representatives of each group – Omez and Ranitidine.

At first glance, the drugs are similar: they reduce the production of gastric juice and thus affect the course of the disease. In fact, these drugs have different effects on the stomach and affect different biochemical processes. They also differ in speed and duration of action, side effects and contraindications. All the nuances were covered in the article.

Let’s compare the composition of the drugs

Omez and Ranitidine belong to the antiulcer drugs. Both remedies are prescribed where it is necessary to reduce the acidity of gastric juice, to prevent the development or exacerbation of peptic ulcer disease. This is where the similarity of the medications ends. More about each drug – in the table.

How they work

Anti-ulcer agents do the same task, but they do it in different ways. Let’s take a closer look at how each drug works.

Omeprazole

Omeprazole and other proton pump inhibitors are central to peptic ulcer therapy. There is an explanation for this:

1. Proton pump inhibitors are more potent at suppressing gastric juice production than other antiulcer drugs.

2. Omeprazole and other drugs in this group create a favorable environment for the action of antibacterial drugs and help fight the underlying cause of gastritis and peptic ulcer – He

3. cobacter pylori.

4. Proton, or acid pump, is the final step in the synthesis of hydrochloric acid in the stomach. The result of its work is the production of the right amount of gastric juice. Omeprazole stops the proton pump from working. It inhibits the production of the H+K±-ATPase enzyme in the membrane of the parietal cells of the stomach. No enzyme, no pump and no hydrochloric acid synthesis.

5. Primarily omeprazole has no antisecretory activity. It enters the parietal cells of the stomach and only there, by binding to the hydrochloric acid present, inhibits the production of the enzyme H+K±-ATPase. It takes at least 18 hours for stomach cells to repair. But during this time, a new dose of the drug will enter the body – and the synthesis of hydrochloric acid will be disrupted again.

6. Omeprazole is quickly absorbed from the digestive tract. The maximum concentration of the drug in the blood is observed after 0.5-1 hours. When taken continuously, the bioavailability of the drug increases. The effect is achieved within four days of the start of therapy.

Ranitidine

Blockers

-Histamine receptors are among the most common anti-ulcer drugs. They have been used in clinical practice since the 1970s. They have been replaced by more modern drugs, but the blockers

-The drugs have lost none of their relevance.

The main effect of ranitidine is antisecretory. Once in the stomach, the drug competitively binds to

-Receptors responsible for the synthesis of hydrochloric acid. As long as the receptors are busy, they can’t work – and no gastric juice is formed.

Ranitidine has other effects as well:

1. Inhibits the production of pepsin, an enzyme of gastric juice;

2. Increases the synthesis of gastric mucus, which protects the walls of the organ from forming ulcers;

3. Improves microcirculation in the gastric mucosa;

4. Stimulates reparative processes – accelerates tissue healing.

Ranitidine is quickly absorbed and reaches a maximum 2-3 hours after ingestion.

Let’s evaluate the effectiveness of drugs

The experts of our journal have conducted a review of scientific articles and have found: the majority of authors say that Omez acts more effectively than Ranitidine. The high therapeutic efficacy of omeprazole is associated with its pronounced antisecretory activity. Scientists estimate: The drug’s effect is 2-10 times stronger than that of blockers

-receptors (including Ranitidine). Administration of an average therapeutic dose suppresses the production of gastric juice by 80-98%. In comparison, Ranitidine blocks hydrochloric acid release by only 55-70%. Many gastroenterologists believe that only omeprazole and other proton pump inhibitors maintain adequate levels of gastric acidity for 18 hours or more – that is, they meet the international criteria for peptic ulcers.

Multicenter clinical studies confirm the higher efficacy of proton pump blockers (omeprazole) compared to

-Blockers (ranitidine). The results of one review are presented in the Cochrane Library. The authors studied more than 3,000 studies on this topic and found: for heartburn

-Blockers proved to be less effective than proton pump inhibitors. However, both drugs helped better than placebo.

Similar results are presented in another Cochrane review. Here the authors also say that proton pump inhibitors have been shown to be better than other anti-ulcer drugs. In another randomized trial, it was found that omeprazole protects the gastric mucosa better than ranitidine against the formation of ulcers when taking NSAIDs.

Patterns of use: how and when to prescribe

The indications for prescribing the drugs are similar:

1. Treatment and prevention of relapse of peptic ulcer disease of the stomach and duodenum;

2. Gastroesophageal reflux disease;

3. conditions with increased gastric juice secretion;

4. Treatment and prevention of damage to the stomach and duodenum against the background of taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

5. A special indication for Omez – ulcers that are resistant to Ranitidine. If a blocker

   -receptor fails, proton pump inhibitors are prescribed.

The regimen of use depends on the severity of the course of the disease:

1. Omez is prescribed orally on an empty stomach for 4-8 weeks. Over time, the patient is transferred to maintenance therapy with dosage reduction. The drug should be taken once a day half an hour before meals.

2. Ranitidine is prescribed twice daily for a course of 4-8 weeks – at any time, regardless of meals.

Precautions

In short (up to 4 weeks) courses of therapy both drugs are well tolerated:

1. Omez sometimes causes unwanted side effects: headache, fatigue, diarrhea, or constipation. With long-term (more than three months) treatment, atrophic gastritis may develop.

2. Ranitidine sometimes causes dyspeptic reactions: nausea, flatulence, diarrhea or constipation. Hyperplasia of the gastric mucosa develops with prolonged use.

3. Ranitidine is a drug that requires a gradual reduction in dosage. Abrupt withdrawal of the drug leads to ricochet syndrome – and hydrochloric acid production increases. Omez does not have this disadvantage. After the completion of therapy, the acidity of the stomach is gradually restored within 5 days.

4. Omez is approved for pregnancy and lactation. This drug is considered safe for women and children. Ranitidine is not used in pregnant or lactating women.

5. In pediatric practice, the priority is given to Omez – it is allowed from two years of age for special indications. Ranitidine is prescribed after 12 years of age.

Conclusions

Briefly about the important things:

1. Omez and Ranitidine are anti-ulcer drugs. They reduce the production of hydrochloric acid in the stomach and are used in the treatment of gastritis and peptic ulcer disease.

2. Omez is a stronger medication. It acts directly on gastric juice synthesis. Its effect is 2-10 times greater than that of Ranitidine and lasts up to 18 hours.

3. Ranitidine affects the receptors associated with gastric juice synthesis. Its action is weaker and lasts less.

4. Omez must always be taken half an hour before a meal, otherwise its effectiveness will be reduced. The action of Ranitidine does not depend on food intake.

5. Omez is prescribed for pregnant and lactating women, children from two years of age. Ranitidine is prohibited during pregnancy and lactation, children under 12 years of age.

6. Both drugs are well tolerated and rarely cause adverse reactions. Undesirable effects are possible with long-term therapy.

Today, most gastroenterologists consider Omez the drug of choice. It is a first-line remedy in the therapy of peptic ulcer disease of the stomach and duodenum. Ranitidine is used as a backup to relieve associated nighttime symptoms and intolerance to proton pump inhibitors. The final decision is taken by the doctor after examination and examination of the patient.