Role of Drugs in Peptic Ulcer Disease

ROLE OF DRUGS IN PEPTIC ULCER DISEASE

Duodenal ulcer is a chronic remitting and relapsing disease lasting several years. Goals of antiulcer therapy are:

·            Relief of pain

·            Ulcer healing

·            Prevention of complications

·            Prevention of relapse

The currently available drugs have adequately achieved the first two goals, partially the third, but there has been little success on the fourth performance criterion. Strategies to maintain the disease in remission are—continuous or on demand intermittent H₂ blocker/PPI treatment. Out of these continuous maintenance H₂ blocker/PPI therapy is regarded the most effective and convenient. Duration of such therapy is uncertain, but should not be less than a few years.

The better approach, however, is to identify and treat H. pylori positive cases. Long-term acid suppressive therapy would then be needed only in H. pylori negative cases, or those in whome this organism cannot be eradicated.