Journal of Medical Economics

Economic evaluation of rabeprazole, omeprazole and ranitidine in the treatment of acid-related upper gastrointestinal disorders

1 Tim Wright BA (Hons)

1 Janssen-Cilag Ltd, Saunderton, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, UK.

Keywords: proton pump inhibitors, H2-receptor antagonists, GORD, gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer, cost effectiveness, cost minimisation

Summary
The cost effectiveness of treating acid-related upper gastrointestinal disorders with rabeprazole, ranitidine and omeprazole is examined. This paper demonstrates that rabeprazole is the most cost-effective treatment for gastro-oesophageal reflux disorder (GORD), gastric ulcer and duodenal ulcer, and should be considered as the treatment of choice.

The efficacy of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) has been well documented. Recent studies have demonstrated that rabeprazole combines superior cost effectiveness with additional benefits over all other PPIs. Rabeprazole is at least as effective in the healing, relief and maintenance of acid-related disorders as omeprazole1-4 and offers greater pain relief in gastric and duodenal ulcers.1,3 Rabeprazole has significantly faster onset of antisecretory activity in healthy volunteers5,6 and more effective acid suppression from day one in vitro than all other PPIs.5,7