Gerd, Heart Burn & Hyperacidity, Reflux Oesophagitis, Regurgitation & Flatulance,Gastric & Peptic Ulcer.

Rabeprazole

Is widely utilized to prevent and heal gastrointestinal (stomach and guts) problems, which is caused due to overmuch stomach acid. Rabeprazole is a proton pump inhibitor (PPI), sometimes identified as an ulcer healing drug. This is also very beneficial for inhibiting secretion and gastric from the stomach as well as to treat various acid related gastrointestinal conditions. It heals stomach and intestinal ulcers and manages gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD a condition in which acid rises up from the stomach into the oesophagus [gullet] with symptoms of heartburn, acid regurgitation and pain on swallowing).

Domperidone

Is a dopamine antagonist with anti-emetic properties domperidone does not readily cross the blood-brain barrier. Its anti-emetic effect may be due to a combination of peripheral (gastrokinetic) effects and antagonism of dopamine receptors in the chemoreceptor trigger zone, which lies outside the blood-brain barrier in the area postrema. Studies in man have shown oral domperidone to increase lower esophaegeal pressure, improve antroduodenal motility and accelerate gastric emptying. There is no effect on gastric secretion.

Mechanism of Action:

Rabeprazole is a partially reversible inhibitor of H K ATPase which is activated in the acidic lumen of the gastric parietal cells. The canalicular membrane of the gastric parietal cells contains the proton pump – H K ATPase enzyme . It exchanges H ions for K ions using energy generated by the breakdown of ATP to ADP. This enzyme represents the final step for acid production in the stomach. It dissociates more quickly and completely from H /K ATPase than omeprazole.

Drug Interactions:

Domperidone, a prokinetic agent, acts on the gastrointestinal activity by acting as a competitive antagonist at dopamine D2 receptors. Dopamine inhibits gastrointestinal motility, reduces gastric and esophageal sphincter tone and inhibits gastroduodenal coordination. This effect of dopamine is inhibited by domperidone effectively as it increases esophageal peristalsis and lower esophageal sphincter pressure (LESP), increases gastric motility and peristalsis, enhances gastroduodenal co-ordination and consequently facilitates gastric emptying and decreases small bowel transit time. It is also known to act on the chemoreceptor trigger zone, producing an antiemetic activity.

Rabeprazole :
pH dependent interactions with digoxin and ketoconazole.
Domperidone :
a). Concomitant administration of anticholinergic drugs may decrease the effect of domperidone.
b). Azole antifungals / macrolide antibiotic, increases plasma levels of domperidone.

Rationale for Combination:
Rabeprazole being the fastest acting PPI gives a quick relief from the hyper acid secretory conditions. A significant percentage of GERD patients have delayed gastric emptying10 and hypotensive esophageal sphincter.
Domperidone, a prokinetic and anti-emetic improves the LES tone, increases the gastric motility and thus helps in gastric emptying. In GERD patients not responding to Rabeprazole alone, combination of Rabeprazole and Domperidone may be effective.

Pharmacokinetics:

Rabeprazole:
Absorption:Rabeprazole sodium is acid labile and formulated as an enteric coated tablet. It is rapidly, dose dependently absorbed after oral administration. Food does not affect the absorption or the peak plasma concentration but delays the time to peak plasma concentration (tmax) by about 1.5 hours. Bioavailability is not influenced by the co-ingestion of either food or antacids.
Distribution:Rabeprazole is 97% bound to human plasma proteins.
Metabolism:It undergoes extensive metabolism via nonenzyme metabolism to form major inactive metabolites (a thioether carboxylic acid metabolite and its glucuronide) and also minor metabolism by CYP2C19 and CYP 3 A4 to desmethyl and sulfone metabolites. Rabeprazole does not accumulate significantly during repeated administration.

Excretion:Approximately 90% of the drug was eliminated in urine, primarily as thioether carboxylic acid; its glucoronise and mercapturic acid metabolites. The remainder of the dose is recovered in the faeces.

Domperidone:
Absorption:Domperidone available in PARIT-D capsules is in the form of controlledrelease pellets, facilitating the use of PARIT-D as once daily dosage. In vitro dissolution test using 0.1 N HCl at 37 ± 5°C demonstrated a release of 15 – 40%, 30 – 60% and 55 – 85% of domperidone from PARIT-D at 1, 4 and 8 hours respectively. The released domperidone is rapidly absorbed following oral administration.26 Systemic bioavailability of oral domperidone is 13 – 17%, probably the result of hepatic first-pass and gut wall metabolism. The half-life is approximately 7.0 hours. Oral bioavailability is decreased by prior administration of cimetidine or sodium bicarbonate.
Distribution:Oral domperidone does not appear to accumulate or to induce its own metabolism; a peak plasma level after 90 minutes of 21 ng/mL after two weeks oral administration of 30 mg per day was almost the same as that of 18 ng/mL after the first dose. Domperidone is 91 – 93% bound to plasma proteins.26 It does not readily cross the blood brain barrier and therefore is not expected to have central effects.22 However, according to animal studies, very low amounts cross the placental barrier and it is excreted in the breast milk.
Metabolism:Oral domperidone does not appear to accumulate or induce its own metabolism. It undergoes rapid and extensive hepatic metabolism by hydroxylation and N-dealkylation. In vitro metabolism experiments with diagnostic inhibitors revealed that CYP3A4 is a major form of cytochrome P-450 involved in the N-dealkylation of domperidone, whereas CYP3A4, CYP1A2 and CYP2E1 are involved in domperidone aromatic hydroxylation.
Elimination:Urinary and faecal excretion amounts to 31 and 66%, respectively, of the oral dose. The proportion of the medicine excreted unchanged is small (10% of faecal excretion and approximately 1% of urinary excretion). The plasma half-life after a single oral dose is 7-9 hours in healthy subjects but is prolonged in patients with severe renal insufficiency.

Side Effects:

Generally well tolerated. Most common side effects are somnolence, dizziness, dry mouth and blurring of vision

Storage:
Store at room temperature, 15-30° C (59-86°F). Keep away from moisture.