Comparison the effect of Asvard capsule and omeprazole in treatment and recurrence of non-cardiac chest pain related to gastroesophageal reflux disease in adults: A controlled double blind clinical trial

Objective: Considering the burden of non-cardiac chest pain (NCCP) on emergency departments and the difficulties related to the treatment of the disorder, the present study aims to investigate the effect of Asvard capsule (containing Myrtus communis and Rosa damascena) compared to routine treatment (omeprazole) in a double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial.Materials and Methods: This study was carried out for ۸ weeks including ۶ weeks of therapeutic intervention and ۲ weeks of follow-up. The participants were assigned to a control group that received omeprazole capsule ۲۰ mg/day and three intervention groups A) Asvard capsule ۱۲۰۰ mg/day )۲ cap ۳۰۰ mg/BID), B) Asvard capsule ۱۶۰۰ mg/day (۲ cap ۴۰۰ mg/BID), and C) Asvard capsule ۲۰۰۰ mg/day (۲ cap ۵۰۰ mg/BID). The therapeutic efficiency for NCCP was assessed in ۴ phases (days ۰, ۲۱, ۴۲, and ۵۶) using a standardized questionnaire of frequency scale for the symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (FSSG).Results: The average value of NCCP was reduced after the intervention compared to the study's baseline in all groups (Pv <۰.۰۰۱). However, two weeks after treatment (follow-up), participants recorded higher scores of NCCP in the omeprazole ۲۰ mg group, the average of NCCP for the intervention groups remained constant or increased slightly.Conclusion: Our findings present that although omeprazole ۲۰ mg decreased chest pain score, it has less lasting effect compared to the herbal medicine used in this study. It seems that Asvard can be effective for the treatment of NCCP related to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), however, a long-term study with a larger sample size is required to confirm these findings.