Compositions and methods for treating gastrointestinal disorders

Methods for treating or preventing gastrointestinal disorders in humans or lower animals, said methods comprising administering to a human or lower animal in need of such treatment or prevention a safe and therapeutically effective amount of a campylobacter-inhibiting antimicrobial agent and a safe and therapeutically effective amount of an H.sub.2 receptor blocking anti-secretory agent, except that when said methods are methods whereby only a bismuth-containing campylobacter-inhibiting antimicrobial agent is administered with an H.sub.2 receptor blocking anti-secretory agent, then said methods further comprise administering the bismuth-containing campylobacter-inhibiting antimicrobial agent and an H2 receptor blocking anti-secretory agent within about one hour of each other.

Pharmaceutical compositions useful for treating or preventing gastrointestinal disorders, said compositions comprising:

• (a) a safe and therapeutically effective amount of a campylobacter-inhibiting antimicrobial agent;
• and
• (b) a safe and therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt suitable for oral co-administration of a bismuth-containing agent and an H.sub.2 receptor blocking anti-secretory agent, said salt comprising bismuth, an organic acid, and an H.sub.2 receptor blocking anti-secretory agent selected from the group consisting of ranitidine and cimetidine.

A method for treating or preventing gastrointestinal disorders in humans or lower animals, said method comprising dosing the gastrointestinal tract of the human or lower animal in need of such treatment or prevention with safe and therapeutically effective amounts of bismuth, ranitidine, and a non-bismuth campylobacter-inhibiting antimicrobial agent.

A method for treating or preventing gastrointestinal disorders in humans or lower animals, said method comprising dosing the gastrointestinal tract of the human or lower animal in need of such treatment or prevention with safe and therapeutically effective amounts of bismuth, cimetidine, and a non-bismuth campylobacter-inhibiting antimicrobial agent.

A method for treating ulcers of the upper gastrointestinal tract in humans or lower animals, said method comprising concurrently treating the upper gastrointestinal tract of the human or lower animal in need of such treatment with safe and therapeutically effective amounts of bismuth, ranitidine, and a non-bismuth campylobacter-inhibiting antimicrobial agent.

A method for treating ulcers of the upper gastrointestinal tract in humans or lower animals, said method comprising concurrently treating the upper gastrointestinal tract of the human or lower animal in need of such treatment with safe and therapeutically effective amounts of bismuth, cimetidine, and a non-bismuth campylobacter-inhibiting antimicrobial agent.

A method for treating non-ulcerative gastrointestinal disorders in humans or lower animals, said method comprising concurrently treating the upper gastrointestinal tract of the human or lower animal in need of such treatment with safe and therapeutically effective amounts of bismuth, ranitidine, and a non-bismuth campylobacter-inhibiting antimicrobial agent.

A method for treating non-ulcerative gastrointestinal disorders in humans or lower animals, said method comprising concurrently treating the upper gastrointestinal tract of the human or lower animal in need of such treatment with safe and therapeutically effective amounts of bismuth, cimetidine, and a non-bismuth campylobacter-inhibiting antimicrobial agent.

A method for treating Campylobacter pyloridis infection of the upper gastrointestinal tract in humans or lower animals, said method comprising concurrently treating the upper gastrointestinal tract of the human or lower animal infected with Campylobacter pyloridis with safe and therapeutically effective amounts of bismuth, ranitidine, and a non-bismuth campylobacter-inhibiting antimicrobial agent.

A method for treating Campylobacter pyloridis infection of the upper gastrointestinal tract in humans or lower animals, said method comprising concurrently treating the upper gastrointestinal tract of the human or lower animal infected with Campylobacter pyloridis with safe and therapeutically effective amounts of bismuth, cimetidine, and a non-bismuth campylobacter-inhibiting antimicrobial agent.

Methods for treating or preventing gastrointestinal disorders in human or lower animals, said methods comprising administering to a human or lower animal in need of such treatment or prevention a safe and therapeutically effective amount of a campylobacter-inhibiting antimicrobial agent and a safe and therapeutically effective amount of an H.sub.2 receptor blocking anti-secretory agent, except that when said methods are methods whereby only a bismuth-containing campylobacter-inhibiting antimocrobial agent is administered with an H.sub.2 receptor blocking anti-secretory agent, then said methods further comprise administering the bismuth-containing campylobacter-inhibiting antimicrobial agent and an H.sub.2 receptor blocking anti-secretory agent within about five minutes of each other.