What is Vonoprazan?
How it differs from H2 Blockers and Proton Pump Inhibitors?
Vonoprazan is a first-in-class potassium-competitive acid blocker. It was approved in the Japanese market in February 2015. Vonoprazan is used in form of the fumarate for the treatment of gastroduodenal ulcer and reflux esophagitis, and can be combined with antibiotics for the eradication of Helicobacter pylori.
Vonoprazan, belongs to a new class of acid suppressant medications, the potassium-competitive acid blocker (P-CAB) a reversible H+-K+ ATPase inhibitor .
A recent Japanese study reported an 88% (21/24) endoscopic healing rate by vonoprazan 20 mg daily for four weeks in patients with PPI-resistant reflux esophagitis (7). The healing rate is similar to the resolution rate of GERD symptom in the present study but in the other randamized conrol trial (March 2015 trial UMIN000016835) done didn,nt show any significant differnce between other ppi and vonoprazan so it is still controversial that vonoprazan is more effective than other ppi.
The side effects included diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting, constipation, abdominal pain, skin rash, and heartburn.
Vonoprazan is being marketed for GERD and acid peptic disease. However, it is mentioned in the side effects that it can also cause heartburn along with other gastrointestinal side effects such as nausea and vomiting.
How can one drug cause and treat heartburn at the same time?