Substituted benzimidazole dosage forms and method of using same

A method for treating an acid-caused gastrointestinal disorder in a subject in need thereof, comprising:

• administering to the subject a solid pharmaceutical composition in a dosage form that is not enteric-coated;
• wherein the composition comprises active ingredients consisting essentially of:
• (a) a therapeutically effective amount of approximately 5 mg to approximately 300 mg of a non-enteric coated proton pump inhibitor selected from the group consisting of omeprazole, lansoprazole, rabeprazole, esomeprazole, pantoprazole, pariprazole, and leminoprazole, or an enantiomer, isomer, derivative, free base, or salt thereof;
• and
• (b) a buffering agent in an amount of approximately 1.0 mEq to approximately 150 mEq selected from the group consisting of a bicarbonate salt of a group IA metal, a calcium salt, and a magnesium salt, wherein the buffering agent is in an amount sufficient to elevate gastric acid pH of the subject's stomach to prevent or inhibit gastric acid degradation of the non-enteric coated proton pump inhibitor and achieve sufficient bioavailability of the proton pump inhibitor in the subject to elicit a therapeutic effect.

A solid pharmaceutical composition in a dosage form that is not enteric-coated, comprising:

• active ingredients consisting essentially of:
• (a) a therapeutically effective amount of a non-enteric coated proton pump inhibitor selected from the group consisting of omeprazole, lansoprazole, rabeprazole, esomeprazole, pantoprazole, pariprazole, and leminoprazole, or an enantiomer, isomer, derivative, free base, or salt thereof;
• and
• (b) a buffering agent selected from the group consisting of sodium bicarbonate, and calcium carbonate, in an amount more than about 40 times the amount of the proton pump inhibitor on a weight to weight basis in the composition.