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Antacid Pharmacology in Duodenal Ulcer — Effect of Antacids on Postcibal Gastric Acidity and Peptic Activity

List of authors.
  • John S. Fordtran, M.D.†,
  • and J. A. H. Collyns, M.D., M.R.C.P. (Lond.)‡

THE value of antacid drugs in the management of duodenal (and gastric) ulcer is controversial. Some consider antacids the keystone of medical therapy,1 others believe that they are of doubtful value,2 , 3 and some do not use them at all.4 Much of the skepticism concerning antacids, even among those who regard them as valuable, is related to their short duration of action (twenty to forty minutes), which in turn is related to the rapidity of gastric emptying. For instance, it has been estimated that a single 4-gm. dose of calcium carbonate is enough to neutralize all the gastric acid secreted by . . .

Funding and Disclosures

* From the Gastrointestinal-Liver Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, Parkland Memorial Hospital and Veterans Administration Hospital (requests for reprints should be addressed to Dr. Fordtran, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, Dallas, Texas 75235).

Supported by a research grant (AM-09079) and a training grant (T1-AM-5395) from the National Institutes of Health, United States Public Health Service, and by a grant from the A. H. Robins Company.

We are indebted to Dr. Ed Moore for supplying us with data on the activity coefficients of hydrogen ion at different pH levels and to Charlotte Douglas and Stephen Morawski for technical assistance.

Author Affiliations

DALLAS, TEXAS

†Assistant professor of internal medicine, University of Texas South-western Medical School; chief, Section of Gastroenterology, Parkland Memorial and Dallas Veterans Administration hospitals.

‡Fellow in gastroenterology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical School and Parkland Memorial Hospital (work done during the tenure of a postdoctoral traineeship under Grant T1-AM-5395).

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