Alginate-antacid Combinations: Raft Formation and Gastric Retention Studies

Background: Alginate-based gastroesophageal reflux disease treatments have been used extensively and fall into two main categories. Those containing alginate as the principle active agent and those containing alginate in combination with a significant amount of antacid.

Method: The effectiveness of the raft formed by a new alginate/antacid suspension (Gaviscon Double Action Liquid, GDAL), in which calcium carbonate was the main antacid ingredient, was compared with those of existing alginate/antacid suspensions.

Result: GDAL had similar raft strength and improved raft resilience than Gaviscon Liquid (GL), and both were significantly greater than five other products tested. Gastric retention of GDAL was similar to that of GL.

Conclusion: the in vitro and in vivo performance is maintained in the new GDAL formulation even with higher antacid levels and the product is as good as, or better than, previous formulations.