Comparison of the potency of nortriptyline and mirtazapine on gastrointestinal symptoms, the level of anxiety and depression in patients with functional dyspepsia

Aim

In the current clinical trial study, the potency of mirtazapine and nortriptyline was compared in patients with Functional Dyspepsia (FD) who had anxiety or depression.

Background

FD usually accompanies other psychosocial disorders. According to previous studies, among these disorders, anxiety and depression have the most correlation.

Methods

This randomized clinical trial was organized in Taleghani hospital (Tehran, Iran). In two parallel groups, 42 patients were treated for 12 weeks, with 22 patients receiving 7.5 mg of mirtazapine and 20 patients receiving 25 mg of nortriptyline per day. To gain robust results, the patients with a positive history of antidepressant therapy, organic diseases, alcohol abuse, pregnancy, and major psychiatric disorders were excluded from the study. The subjects were examined by three questionnaires, including Nepean and Hamilton questionnaires. The patients were asked to answer the questions three times during the study: once before the onset of the treatment, second during the treatment, and third at the end of the treatment.

Results

Based on Gastrointestinal (GI) manifestations, mirtazapine, in comparison to nortriptyline could significantly suppress the signs and symptoms of FD, including epigastric pains (P=0.02), belching (P=0.004), and bloating (P=0.01). Although the results from the use of mirtazapine compared to the use of nortriptyline (P=0.002) showed a lower mean depression score on the Hamilton questionnaire, no significant differences were found between the effects of these drugs on the anxiety scale of patients (P=0.091).

Conclusion

Mirtazapine is more effective for GI symptoms related to gastric emptying. Considering the level of anxiety, mirtazapine, compared to nortriptyline, revealed better outcomes in FD patients suffering from depression.

Proton pump inhibitor monotherapy is effective to attenuate dyspepsia symptoms associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease: a multicenter prospective observational study

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and functional dyspepsia (FD) are frequently overlapped. However, no treatment strategies have been established yet for such patients. This study compared the effects of proton pump inhibitor (PPI) treatment in patients with GERD-associated FD among three groups with varying severity levels of GERD symptoms.

METHODS

The patients with GERD and FD symptoms received PPI treatment for 4 weeks after endoscopy, and the severity of the symptoms and responses to treatment were evaluated at before and after 4 weeks of treatment using the Gastroesophageal Reflux and Dyspepsia Therapeutic Efficacy and Satisfaction Test (GERD-TEST). The patients were divided into three groups in accordance with the severity of the GERD symptoms as assessed by the GERD symptom subscale (SS) scores of pre-treatment.

RESULTS

Data from 233 cases of 40 mild, 151 moderate and 42 severe symptoms were analyzed. Analysis of the pre-treatment scores for each symptom revealed that a higher GERD-SS score was significantly associated with higher scores on any kind of FD score. Four weeks of PPI treatment significantly and markedly alleviated any of GERD/FD symptoms. Most importantly, change in the score for each symptom after 4 weeks of treatment relative to the pre-treatment score was significantly greater in the groups with more severe GERD-SS.

CONCLUSION

FD symptoms associated with more severe GERD symptoms are supposed to be acid-related dyspepsia, and PPI monotherapy is recommended as the treatment of first choice in such patients.

New Approaches to Diagnosis and Treatment of Functional Dyspepsia

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The purpose of this article is to review the recent literature and discuss the new approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of functional dyspepsia (FD).

RECENT FINDINGS

According to the recent American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) and Canadian Association of Gastroenterology (CAG) guideline for dyspepsia, Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication is recommended as a first treatment option, and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), tricyclic antidepressants, and prokinetics are listed as second-line therapy. On the other hand, in the Japanese guideline for FD, PPIs and prokinetics are recommended as the first-line treatment. In Japan, acotiamide, a recently launched prokinetic, showed significant efficacy in several clinical trials performed either in Japan or Europe. Regarding non-pharmacological treatment, recent topics include acupuncture, electrical stimulation, gastric peroral endoscopic myotomy, and meal and lifestyle modification. These treatments have provided significant efficacy, which provides some insights into the main pathophysiology of this disease. Although FD is common among functional gastrointestinal disorders, it is not easy to relieve the dyspeptic symptoms of FD patients. Combinations of pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment options are expected.