Actuality: Carolyn Clancy
Narrator: Drugs can be as effective as stomach surgery for treating gastroesophageal reflux disease, also known as GERD. This finding is from the first report of a new program from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, or "ark," that compares alternative treatments for health conditions. For most patients with chronic GERD, a class of drugs called proton pump inhibitors, or P-P-Is, can relieve symptoms at least as well as stomach surgery. P-P-Is include AcipHex®, Nexium®, Prevacid®, Protonix®, and Prilosec OTC™, as well as the generic drug omeprazole.
AHRQ Director Doctor Carolyn Clancy...
Dr. Clancy: Today's report will help patients and health care providers make more informed choices when they consider how to manage the symptoms of chronic GERD, especially when they consider surgery.
Narrator: For more information about GERD, go to http://www-dot-effectivehealthcare-dot-a-h-r-q-dot-gov. This information was produced by the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
Current as of December 14, 2005
Internet Citation:
Audio News Release Transcript: Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) Effective Health Care Report. December 14, 2005. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. http://www.ahrq.gov/news/gerdtran.htm
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