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Pharmacotherapeutic group: Proton pump inhibitor. ATC code: A02B C05.
Pharmacology: Pharmacodynamics: Esomeprazole is the S-isomer of omeprazole and reduces gastric acid secretion through a specific targeted mechanism of action. It is a specific inhibitor of the acid pump in the parietal cell. Both the R- and S-isomer of omeprazole have similar pharmacodynamic activity.
Site and mechanism of action: Esomeprazole is a weak base and is concentrated and converted to the active form in the highly acidic environment of the secretory canaliculi of the parietal cell, where it inhibits the enzyme H+ K+ -ATPase - the acid pump and inhibits both basal and stimulated acid secretion.
Effect on gastric acid secretion: After 5 days of oral dosing with 20 mg and 40 mg of esomeprazole, intragastric pH above 4 was reported to be maintained for a mean time of 13 hours and 17 hours, respectively over 24 hours in symptomatic GERD patients. The effect is similar irrespective of whether esomeprazole is administered orally or intravenously.
Using AUC as a surrogate parameter for plasma concentration, a relationship between inhibition of acid secretion and exposure has been reported after oral administration of esomeprazole.
During intravenous administration of 80 mg esomeprazole as a bolus infusion over 30 minutes followed by a continuous intravenous infusion of 8 mg/h for 23.5 hours, intragastric pH above 4, and pH above 6 was reported to be maintained for a mean time of 21 hours, and 11-13 hours, respectively, over 24 hours in healthy subjects.
Therapeutic effects of acid inhibition: Healing of reflux esophagitis with esomeprazole 40 mg reports in approximately 78% of patients after 4 weeks, and in 93% after 8 weeks of oral treatment.
In a reported randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled clinical study, 764 patients who presented with endoscopically confirmed peptic ulcer bleeding were randomized to receive esomeprazole solution for infusion (n=375) or placebo (n=389). Following endoscopic hemostasis, patients received either 80 mg esomeprazole as an intravenous infusion over 30 minutes followed by a continuous infusion of 8 mg per hour or placebo for 72 hours. After the initial 72 hour period, all patients received 40 mg oral esomeprazole for 27 days for acid suppression. The reported occurrence of rebleeding within 3 days was 5.9% in the esomeprazole IV treated group compared to 10.3% for the placebo group (p=0.0256). At 7 and 30 days post-treatment, the reported occurrence of rebleeding in the esomeprazole treated versus the placebo treated group was 7.2% vs 12.9% (p=0.0096) and 7.7% vs 13.6%, respectively (p=0.0092).
Other effects related to acid inhibition: During reported treatment with antisecretory drugs serum gastrin increases in response to the decreased acid secretion. Also chromogranin A (CgA) increases due to decreased gastric acidity. The increased CgA level may interfere with investigations for neuroendocrine tumors. Literature reports report that proton pump inhibitor treatment should be stopped 5 to 14 days before CgA measurements. Measurements should be reported if levels have not normalized by this time.
An increased number of ECL cells possibly related to the increased serum gastrin levels, have been reported in both children and adults during long term treatment with esomeprazole. The findings are considered to be of no clinical significance.
During reported long-term oral treatment with antisecretory drugs gastric glandular cysts have been reported to occur at a somewhat increased frequency. These changes are a psychological consequence of pronounced inhibition of acid secretion, are benign and appear to be reversible.
Decreased gastric acidity due to any means including proton pump inhibitors, increases gastric counts of bacteria normally present in the gastrointestinal tract. Treatment with proton pump inhibitors may lead to slightly increased risk of gastrointestinal infections such as Salmonella and Campylobacter and, in hospitalized patients, possibly also Clostridium difficile.
Pharmacokinetics: Distribution: The apparent volume of distribution at steady state in health is subjects is reported approximately 0.22 L/kg/body weight. Esomeprazole is 97% plasma protein bound.
Metabolism and excretion: Esomeprazole is reported to be completely metabolized by the cytochrome P450 system (CYP). The major part of the metabolism of esomeprazole is dependent on the polymorphic CYP2C19, responsible for the formation of the hydroxy- and desmethyl metabolites of esomeprazole. The remaining part is dependent on another specific isoform, CYP3A4, responsible for the formation of esomeprazole sulphone, the main metabolite in plasma.
The parameters as follows reflect mainly the pharmacokinetics in individuals with a functional CYP2C19 enzyme, extensive metabolisers.
Reported total plasma clearance is about 17 L/h after a single dose and about 9 L/h after repeated administration. The plasma elimination half-life is reported about 1.3 hours after repeated once-daily dosing. Total exposure (AUC) increases with repeated administration of esomeprazole. This increase is dose-dependent and results in a non-linear dose-AUC relationship after repeated administration. This time- and dose-dependency is due to a decrease of first pass metabolism and systemic clearance probably caused by inhibition of the CYP2C19 enzyme by esomeprazole and/or its sulphone metabolite.
Esomeprazole is reported to be completely eliminated from plasma between doses with no tendency for accumulation during once-daily administration.
Following repeated doses of 40 mg administered as intravenous injections, the mean peak plasma concentration is reported to be approx. 13.6 micromol/L. The mean peak plasma concentration after corresponding oral doses is reported to be approx. 4.6 micromol/L. A smaller increase (of approx. 30%) can be seen in the total exposure after intravenous administration compared to oral administration.
The major metabolites of esomeprazole have no effect on gastric acid secretion. Almost 80% of an oral dose of esomeprazole is excreted as metabolites in the urine, the remainder in the faeces. Less than 1% of the parent drug is found in urine.
Special patient populations: Approximately 2.9±1.5% of the reported population lacks a functional CYP2C19 enzyme and is called poor metabolisers. In these individuals the metabolism of esomeprazole is probably mainly catalyzed by CYP3A4. After repeated once-daily administration of 40 mg oral esomeprazole, the mean total exposure was reported to be approximately 100% higher in poor metabolisers than in subjects with a functional CYP2C19 enzyme (extensive metabolisers). Mean peak plasma concentrations were increased by about 60%. Similar differences have been reported for intravenous administration of esomeprazole. These findings have no implications for the posology of esomeprazole.
Metabolism of esomeprazole is not significantly changed in elderly subjects (71-80 years of age).
Following a single oral dose of 40 mg esomeprazole the mean total exposure is reported to be approximately 30% higher in females than in males. No gender difference is reported after repeated once-daily administration. Similar differences of been reported for intravenous administration of esomeprazole. This findings have no implications for the posology of esomeprazole.
The metabolism of esomeprazole in patients with mild to moderate liver dysfunction may be impaired. The metabolic rate is reported to be decreased in patients with severe liver dysfunction resulting in a doubling of the total exposure of esomeprazole. Therefore, a maximum dose of 20 mg should not be exceeded in GERD patients with severe dysfunction. For patients with bleeding ulcers and severe liver impairment, following an initial bolus dose of 80 mg, a maximum continuous intravenous infusion dose of 4 mg/h for 71.5 hours may be sufficient. Esomeprazole or its major metabolites do not report any tendency to accumulate with once-daily dosing.
No studies have been reported in patients with decreased renal function. Since the kidney is responsible for the excretion of the metabolites of esomeprazole but not for the elimination of the parent compound, the metabolism of esomeprazole is not expected to be changed in patients with impaired renal function.
