Clinico-pharmacological evaluation of omeprazole, as a proton pump inhibitor, compared with H2-blockers]

We evaluated the safety, tolerance, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of omeprazole, a new anti-ulcer agent chiefly on the basis of our studies in healthy male volunteers. The type and incidence of side effects of omeprazole have been reported to be similar to those of H2-antagonists, and in our studies too, omeprazole was estimated to be safe and tolerable. Following single doses, the increase in AUC was not proportional to the increase in dosage. In the multiple-dose study, the AUC was greater on day 7 than on day 1. This finding may be due to a partial saturation of first pass elimination. Repeated omeprazole treatment (20 mg once daily for 4 days) inhibited the basal and stimulated acid secretion. Though H2-blockers inhibit the basal and stimulated pepsin secretion, omeprazole inhibited the stimulated pepsin secretion only.