Expert Perspectives on the Prescription Practice of Esomeprazole Alone or in Combination with Domperidone for Acid Peptic Disease Management in Indian Settings

Abstract

Objective: To gather expert perspectives on the use of esomeprazole monotherapy or its combination with domperidone for managing acid-peptic disease (APD) in routine Indian settings. Methods: This cross-sectional study employed a 24-item questionnaire to gather expert opinions on managing APD. The survey covered topics such as prescription practices, clinical observations, preferences, and experiences with esomeprazole alone and in combination with domperidone for routine APD management. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the gathered data. Results: This study involved 324 participants, and nearly half (48.15%) of them reported a 15–25% patient diagnosis rate of APD in clinical practice. Approximately 62% of respondents indicated equal gender susceptibility to gastric ulcers, affecting both urban and rural populations (56.48%). Around 40% of the clinicians indicated 46-60 years as the age group most affected by gastric ulcers.  About 44% reported irregular and unhealthy eating habits as common risk factors. Most participants (90.74%) favored proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs), with 91% preferring esomeprazole for APD treatment. Nearly half of the clinicians (52%) reported that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) induced gastritis in 10-20% of cases. Conclusion: This study underscores the prominent role of esomeprazole, both alone and in combination with domperidone, in the management of APD in Indian clinical settings. The strong preference for esomeprazole, highlighted by its superior acid control and low incidence of side effects, corroborates its efficacy and reliability.