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Suggest Treatment For Burning Sensation In The Throat And Esophagus
Question: I have a burning in my throat and esophaus. It is not constant however it does come and go during the day.
Brief Answer:
Gastro-esophageal reflux (GERD)
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
It sounds like you are having a problem with acid reflux (GERD). The acid in the stomach is going up the esophagus and throat, which are not made to have strong acid in them.
Here are things you can do to help get this under control.
Take Zantac (ranitidine) 150 mg twice a day. This is an acid reducer and is quite safe. You can buy it without prescription at a drug store. It may take a few days until you start feeling better. If your reflux symptoms have gone on for some time, you may need to take the Zantac for 4-6 weeks to allow for healing.
Avoid eating for a couple of hours before going to bed.
Raise the head of your bed up - not with pillows which can bend your abdomen so that there is more pressure on your stomach - but with wedges for under the feet of the head of the bed that are sold for this purpose. They also sell these at some drug stores or other stores for this purpose.
Eat small meals so that your stomach does not get distended - which triggers increased acid production and pressure which increases reflux. So eat smaller amounts at a time, but more often to compensate.
Avoid foods that you've noticed make your symptoms worse. In general, until you heal up, avoid acidy foods such as tomato sauce and citrus, alcohol, caffeine, mint.
You may also want to decrease fatty or fried foods, chocolate, garlic, and onion, but only if these bother you.
No smoking.
If you take aspirin or NSAIDs such a ibuprofen/Advil/Motrin, or naproxen, decrease these to the least amount you can as they are stomach lining irritants.
If this doesn't help, then the next step is to replace the Zantac with a proton pump inhibitor such as Nexium. I am not a big fan of proton pump inhibitors because some people get rebound symptoms when they are stopped. But they can be helpful.
And if you are still having problems, see your doctor.
The symptoms should get considerably better with the plan above, and if it is getting worse, then don't wait, go in to see your doctor.
I hope this information helps.
Gastro-esophageal reflux (GERD)
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
It sounds like you are having a problem with acid reflux (GERD). The acid in the stomach is going up the esophagus and throat, which are not made to have strong acid in them.
Here are things you can do to help get this under control.
Take Zantac (ranitidine) 150 mg twice a day. This is an acid reducer and is quite safe. You can buy it without prescription at a drug store. It may take a few days until you start feeling better. If your reflux symptoms have gone on for some time, you may need to take the Zantac for 4-6 weeks to allow for healing.
Avoid eating for a couple of hours before going to bed.
Raise the head of your bed up - not with pillows which can bend your abdomen so that there is more pressure on your stomach - but with wedges for under the feet of the head of the bed that are sold for this purpose. They also sell these at some drug stores or other stores for this purpose.
Eat small meals so that your stomach does not get distended - which triggers increased acid production and pressure which increases reflux. So eat smaller amounts at a time, but more often to compensate.
Avoid foods that you've noticed make your symptoms worse. In general, until you heal up, avoid acidy foods such as tomato sauce and citrus, alcohol, caffeine, mint.
You may also want to decrease fatty or fried foods, chocolate, garlic, and onion, but only if these bother you.
No smoking.
If you take aspirin or NSAIDs such a ibuprofen/Advil/Motrin, or naproxen, decrease these to the least amount you can as they are stomach lining irritants.
If this doesn't help, then the next step is to replace the Zantac with a proton pump inhibitor such as Nexium. I am not a big fan of proton pump inhibitors because some people get rebound symptoms when they are stopped. But they can be helpful.
And if you are still having problems, see your doctor.
The symptoms should get considerably better with the plan above, and if it is getting worse, then don't wait, go in to see your doctor.
I hope this information helps.
Note: Consult an experienced Otolaryngologist / ENT Specialist online for further follow up on ear, nose, and throat issues - Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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