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Diseases » Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease » Treatments

Treatments for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease



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Treatments for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

The list of treatments mentioned in various sources for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease includes the following list. Always seek professional medical advice about any treatment or change in treatment plans.

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease: Is the Diagnosis Correct?

The first step in getting correct treatment is to get a correct diagnosis. Differential diagnosis list for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease may include:

Hidden causes of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease may be incorrectly diagnosed:

  • Hiatal hernia
  • Esophagus inflammation (see Esophagus symptoms)
  • Gastroesophageal reflux is a common condition that often occurs without symptoms after meals. In some people, the reflux is related to a problem with the lower esophageal sphincter, a band of muscle fibers that usually closes off the esophagus from the stomach. If this sphincter doesn't close properly, food and liquid can move backward into the esophagus and may cause the symptoms
  • more causes...»

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease: Marketplace Products, Discounts & Offers

Products, offers and promotion categories available for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease:

Curable Types of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

Possibly curable types of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease may include:

  • Pregnancy associated GERD
  • GERD associated with obesity
  • Medication ( nitrates, beta blockers, calcium channel blockers) associated GERD
  • more curable types...»

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease: Research Doctors & Specialists

Research all specialists including ratings, affiliations, and sanctions.

Drugs and Medications used to treat Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease:

Note:You must always seek professional medical advice about any prescription drug, OTC drug, medication, treatment or change in treatment plans.

Some of the different medications used in the treatment of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease include:

  • Histamine
  • Cimetidine
  • Apo-Ciimetidine
  • Enlon
  • Novo-Cimetine
  • Nu-Cimet
  • Peptol
  • Tagamet
  • Tagamet HB 200
  • Acid Reducer 200
  • Acid Reducer Cimetidine
  • Heartburn 200
  • Heartburn Relief 200
  • Famotidine
  • Pepcid
  • Pepcid AC
  • Pepcid Complete
  • Acid Control
  • Acid Controller
  • Alti-Famotidine
  • Nizatidine
  • Apo-Nizatidine
  • Axid
  • Novo-Nizatidine
  • Axid AR
  • Ranitidine
  • Alti-Ranitidine
  • Apo-Ranitidine
  • Novo-Ranidine
  • Nu-Ranit
  • Zantac
  • Zantac-C
  • Zantac 75
  • Zantac 75 EFFERdose
  • Acid Reducer
  • Lansoprazole
  • Prevacid
  • Prevacid delayed release oral suspension
  • Prevpac
  • Omeprazole
  • Losec
  • Prilosec
  • Risek
  • Apo-Cimetidine
  • Cisapride
  • Entheropride
  • Kinestase
  • Prepulsid
  • Unamol
  • Esomeprazole
  • Nexium
  • Pantoprazole
  • Protonix
  • Panto IV
  • Pantoloc
  • Pantozol
  • Zurcal
  • Rebeprazole
  • Pariet
  • Aciphex

Unlabeled Drugs and Medications to treat Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease:

Unlabelled alternative drug treatments for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease include:

Latest treatments for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease:

The following are some of the latest treatments for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease:

Hospital statistics for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease:

These medical statistics relate to hospitals, hospitalization and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease:

  • 0.51% (65,134) of hospital consultant episodes were for gastro-oesophageal reflux disease in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
  • 91% of hospital consultant episodes for gastro-oesophageal reflux disease required hospital admission in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
  • 53% of hospital consultant episodes for gastro-oesophageal reflux disease were for men in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
  • 47% of hospital consultant episodes for gastro-oesophageal reflux disease were for women in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
  • 13% of hospital consultant episodes for gastro-oesophageal reflux disease required emergency hospital admission in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
  • more hospital information...»

Hospitals & Medical Clinics: Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

Research quality ratings and patient incidents/safety measures for hospitals and medical facilities in specialties related to Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease:

Hospital & Clinic quality ratings » »

Choosing the Best Treatment Hospital: More general information, not necessarily in relation to Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, on hospital and medical facility performance and surgical care quality:

Medical news summaries about treatments for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease:

The following medical news items are relevant to treatment of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease:

Discussion of treatments for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease:

Heartburn, Hiatal Hernia, and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD): NIDDK (Excerpt)

If you have had heartburn or any of the other symptoms for a while, you should see your doctor. You may want to visit an internist, a doctor who specializes in internal medicine, or a gastroenterologist, a doctor who treats diseases of the stomach and intestines. Depending on how severe your GERD is, treatment may involve one or more of the following lifestyle changes and medications or surgery.

Lifestyle Changes

  • If you smoke, stop.
  • Do not drink alcohol.
  • Lose weight if needed.
  • Eat small meals.
  • Wear loose-fitting clothes.
  • Avoid lying down for 3 hours after a meal.
  • Raise the head of your bed 6 to 8 inches by putting blocks of wood under the bedposts--just using extra pillows will not help.

Medications

Your doctor may recommend over-the-counter antacids, which you can buy without a prescription, or medications that stop acid production or help the muscles that empty your stomach.

Antacids, such as Alka-Seltzer, Maalox, Mylanta, Pepto-Bismol, Rolaids, and Riopan, are usually the first drugs recommended to relieve heartburn and other mild GERD symptoms. Many brands on the market use different combinations of three basic salts--magnesium, calcium, and aluminum--with hydroxide or bicarbonate ions to neutralize the acid in your stomach. Antacids, however, have side effects. Magnesium salt can lead to diarrhea, and aluminum salts can cause constipation. Aluminum and magnesium salts are often combined in a single product to balance these effects.

Calcium carbonate antacids, such as Tums, Titralac, and Alka-2, can also be a supplemental source of calcium. They can cause constipation as well.

Foaming agents, such as Gaviscon, work by covering your stomach contents with foam to prevent reflux. These drugs may help those who have no damage to the esophagus.

H2 blockers, such as cimetidine (Tagamet HB), famotidine (Pepcid AC), nizatidine (Axid AR), and ranitidine (Zantac 75), impede acid production. They are available in prescription strength and over the counter. These drugs provide short-term relief, but over-the-counter H2 blockers should not be used for more than a few weeks at a time. They are effective for about half of those who have GERD symptoms. Many people benefit from taking H2 blockers at bedtime in combination with a proton pump inhibitor.

Proton pump inhibitors include omeprazole (Prilosec), lansoprazole (Prevacid), pantoprazole (Protonix), rabeprazole (Aciphex), and esomeprazole (Nexium), which are all available by prescription. Proton pump inhibitors are more effective than H2 blockers and can relieve symptoms in almost everyone who has GERD.

Another group of drugs, prokinetics, helps strengthen the sphincter and makes the stomach empty faster. This group includes bethanechol (Urecholine) and metoclopramide (Reglan). Metoclopramide also improves muscle action in the digestive tract, but these drugs have frequent side effects that limit their usefulness. Erythromycin, an antibiotic, can also help your stomach empty faster.

Because drugs work in different ways, combinations of drugs may help control symptoms. People who get heartburn after eating may take both antacids and H2 blockers. The antacids work first to neutralize the acid in the stomach, while the H2 blockers act on acid production. By the time the antacid stops working, the H2 blocker will have stopped acid production. Your doctor is the best source of information on how to use medications for GERD. (Source: excerpt from Heartburn, Hiatal Hernia, and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD): NIDDK)

Heartburn, Hiatal Hernia, and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD): NIDDK (Excerpt)

Surgery

Surgery is an option when medicine and lifestyle changes do not work. Surgery may also be a reasonable alternative to a lifetime of drugs and discomfort.

Fundoplication, usually a specific variation called Nissen fundoplication, is the standard surgical treatment for GERD. The upper part of the stomach is wrapped around the LES to strengthen the sphincter and prevent acid reflux and to repair a hiatal hernia.

This fundoplication procedure may be done using a laparoscope and requires only tiny incisions in the abdomen. To perform the fundoplication, surgeons use small instruments that hold a tiny camera. Laparoscopic fundoplication has been used safely and effectively in people of all ages, even babies. When performed by experienced surgeons, the procedure is reported to be as good as standard fundoplication. Furthermore, people can leave the hospital in 1 to 3 days and return to work in 1 to 2 weeks.

In 2000, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved two endoscopic devices to treat chronic heartburn. The Bard EndoCinch system puts stitches in the LES to create little pleats that help strengthen the muscle. The Stretta system uses electrodes to create tiny cuts on the LES. When the cuts heal, the scar tissue helps toughen the muscle. The long-term effects of these two procedures are unknown. (Source: excerpt from Heartburn, Hiatal Hernia, and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD): NIDDK)

Book Excerpts: Treatment of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

Treatments of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease: Online Medical Books

16 MEDICAL BOOKS ONLINE! Review excerpts from medical books online, free, without registration, for more information about the treatments of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease.

Sore Throat: Treatment
(In a Page: Signs and Symptoms)

  • Viral pharyngitis: Treat symptomatically with hydration, decongestants, saline nasal spray, analgesics, and rest
  • Strep pharyngitis: Appropriate antibiotics (e.g., penicillin, erythromycin) and symptomatic treatment with analgesics
  • Mononucleosis: Symptomatic treatment with analgesics; limit contact sports if splenomegaly is present
    –Hospitalization in patients with encephalitis, airway compromise, or dehydration due to nausea/vomiting secondary to hepatitis
  • Allergic pharyngitis: Antihistamines, nasal steroids
  • Foreign body: Protect airway; removal by ENT doctor
  • GERD: H2 blockers (e.g., ranitidine) or proton pump inhibitors (e.g., omeprazole), elevate head of bed, weight loss, small meals

» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »

Source: In a Page: Signs and Symptoms, 2004

Sore Throat: Treatment
(In A Page: Pediatric Signs and Symptoms)

    • Viral causes
      –Supportive care including hydration, acetaminophen or ibuprofen, bedrest, salt water rinses
      –Steroids may be considered to minimize upper airway obstruction
    • Antibiotics for bacterial etiologies
      –For group A β-hemolytic strep: Shortens duration of symptoms and prevents rheumatic fever
  • Consider inpatient admission when there is concern about adequate airway or oral intake
  • Airway management: Intubation or tracheotomy
  • When gastroesophageal reflux is suspected, treatment may include dietary changes, antireflux therapy
  • Adenotonsillectomy for recurrent tonsillitis is considered depending on frequency of recurrence, i.e., 6–7 infections/year, or 4–5 infections/year for 2 years, or 3 infections/year for 3 years

» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »

Source: In A Page: Pediatric Signs and Symptoms, 2007

Gastroesophageal reflux: Treatment
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))

Effective management begins by teaching the patient to avoid factors that decrease LES pressure or cause esophageal irritation. The patient should eat a low-fat, high-fiber diet and avoid caffeine, tobacco, and carbonated beverages. He shouldn’t eat 2 hours before going to bed and should avoid tight clothing, elevate the head of the bed 6" to 8" (15 to 20 cm) and maintain a normal body weight. Promotility agents help increase LES sphincter tone and stimulate upper GI motility. Proton pump inhibitors and histamine-2 (H2) receptor antagonists help reduce gastric acidity. If possible, NG intubation shouldn’t be continued for more than 5 days because the tube interferes with sphincter integrity and allows reflux, especially when the patient lies flat.

Positional therapy is especially useful in infants and children who experience GERD without complications.

Surgery may be necessary to control severe and refractory symptoms, such as pulmonary aspiration, hemorrhage, obstruction, severe pain, perforation, an incompetent LES, or associated hiatal hernia. Surgical procedures that create an artificial closure at the gastroesophageal junction may be needed in some patients. These include a procedure that invaginates the esophagus into the stomach and procedures that create a gastric wraparound with or without fixation. The fundoplication procedure can be performed endoscopically. Also, vagotomy or pyloroplasty may be combined with an antireflux regimen to modify gastric contents.

» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »

Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005

Dyspepsia: Patient counseling
(Professional Guide to Signs & Symptoms (Fifth Edition))

Advise the patient to eat frequent small meals and to avoid foods known to cause symptoms as well as coffee, tea, chocolate, alcohol, and tobacco.

» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »

Source: Professional Guide to Signs & Symptoms (Fifth Edition), 2006

Gastroesophageal reflux: Treatment
(Handbook of Diseases)

Effective management relieves symptoms by reducing intra-abdominal pressure and reflux through gravity, neutralizing gastric contents, strengthening the LES with drug therapy and, in severe cases, performing surgery.

Positional therapy

To reduce intra-abdominal pressure and reflux, the patient should sleep in a reverse Trendelenburg position (with the head of the bed elevated) and should avoid lying down after meals and late-night snacks. In uncomplicated cases, positional therapy is especially useful in infants and children. The patient is also encouraged to reduce his weight to help reduce symptoms.

Drug therapy

In mild cases, over-the-counter antisecretory agents are helpful. In moderate cases, histamine-2 receptor blocking agents (cimetidine, ranitidine, famotidine, nizatidine) for 6 to 12 weeks provide symptom relief. Erosive esophagitis is better treated with proton pump inhibitors (omeprazole, lansoprazole, pantoprazole, or rabeprazole) and heals up to 90% of patients.

Surgery

Surgical intervention may be necessary to control severe and refractory symptoms, such as pulmonary aspiration, hemorrhage, obstruction, severe pain, perforation, incompetent LES, and associated hiatal hernia.

Surgical procedures include antireflux surgery, in which the fundus is wrapped around the esophagus (fundoplication). Also, vagotomy or pyloroplasty may be combined with an antireflux regimen to modify gastric contents.

UNDER STUDY:   Endoluminal gastric plication (Endocinch) and radiofrequency energy delivery (Stretta system) are two modalities approved for outpatient treatment of gastroesophageal reflux. Endoluminal gastric plication involves ligating and tightening the lax area within the lesser curve of the stomach, thereby strengthening and increasing the LES pressure. Radiofrequency energy delivered to the target tissue results in the same effect. Both have shown promising short-term results.

» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »

Source: Handbook of Diseases, 2003

Dyspepsia: Patient counseling
(Signs & Symptoms: A 2-in-1 Reference for Nurses)

Advise patients to eat frequent, small meals. Also, tell them to avoid foods known to cause symptoms as well as coffee, tea, chocolate, alcohol, and tobacco. Explain all diagnostic tests and procedures. Discuss other ways to deal with stress, such as deep breathing and guided imagery. Provide the patient with a calm environment to reduce stress, and make sure the patient gets plenty of rest. In addition, prepare the patient for endoscopy to evaluate the cause of dyspepsia.

» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »

Source: Signs & Symptoms: A 2-in-1 Reference for Nurses, 2007

Dyspepsia: Nursing considerations
(Nursing: Interpreting Signs and Symptoms)

▪ Give an antacid 30 minutes before or 1 hour after a meal.

▪ Provide food to relieve dyspepsia.

▪ Because various drugs can cause dyspepsia, give these after meals or with food, if possible.

▪ Provide a calm environment to reduce stress, and make sure that the patient gets plenty of rest.

▪ Prepare the patient for endoscopy to evaluate the cause of dyspepsia.

Patient teaching

▪ Discuss stress reduction techniques, such as deep breathing and guided imagery.

▪ Discuss the importance of small, frequent meals.

▪ Explain to the patient his diagnosis and the treatment plan.

» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »

Source: Nursing: Interpreting Signs and Symptoms, 2007

Gastroesophageal Reflux: Gastroesophageal Reflux - TREATMENT
(The 5-Minute Pediatric Consult)

Several modes of therapy are available, depending on severity, duration of reflux, and complications. Treatment should be individualized, and cost effectiveness should be considered.

» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »

Source: The 5-Minute Pediatric Consult, 2008


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