What medicine should I take for reflux pharyngitis?

Reflux pharyngitis is a type of pharyngitis. It mainly refers to the reflux of some stomach contents into the pharynx, thereby irritating the mucous membrane of the throat, causing a symptom of the disease. Patients often experience a burning sensation in the throat, causing pain, itching and a foreign body sensation, often leading to bad breath and bitter taste in the mouth, and hoarseness when speaking. At this time, you can use medication in time for treatment. The more common drugs are omeprazole, cimetidine, etc. You must follow the doctor's advice and use the medication under the guidance of a doctor.

What medicine should I take for reflux pharyngitis?

Treatment mainly includes behavioral therapy (especially important) and drug therapy. Drug treatment includes proton pump inhibitors (omeprazole, pantoprazole, etc.), gastrointestinal motility drugs (mosapride, etc.), and H2 receptor blockers (cimetidine, ranitidine, famotidine, etc.). Proton pump inhibitors and gastrointestinal motility drugs should be taken half an hour before meals, and H2 receptor blockers are often taken before bedtime. The duration of drug treatment is required to be more than 3 months, and it usually takes 2-4 weeks for the effect to be seen.

Why does reflux pharyngitis occur?

Long-term stimulation from smoking and drinking, irregular diet, preference for spicy and irritating food, staying up late, insomnia, mental stress, sulking, long-term medication (drugs for the treatment of chronic pharyngitis, anti-inflammatory drugs, especially Chinese patent medicines), etc. are all likely to cause laryngeal reflux.

How can I be sure that I have reflux pharyngitis if I don’t have any reflux symptoms?

Laryngopharyngeal reflux can coexist with gastroesophageal reflux, but it can also exist alone. In outpatient clinics, 70%-80% of patients with laryngopharyngeal reflux do not have symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux. The symptoms described in question 1 are the symptoms of laryngeal reflux, and the reflux symptoms we usually refer to mainly refer to the symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux such as stomach acid, bloating, heartburn, and pain behind the sternum. The diagnosis of reflux pharyngitis requires an effective comprehensive assessment based on medical history, etiology, throat specialist examination, behavioral therapy, and empirical anti-reflux drug treatment.

Do I need to see a gastroenterologist?

Although laryngopharyngeal reflux often coexists with gastroesophageal reflux, it is still tended to be considered that laryngopharyngeal reflux and gastroesophageal reflux are two different diseases. The symptoms of laryngeal reflux are mainly throat symptoms, with corresponding specific changes in the throat. They often occur during the day, when standing or sitting, and are related to upper esophageal sphincter dysfunction. The symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux are mainly gastroesophageal symptoms, which are mainly related to abnormal function of the lower esophageal sphincter. Therefore, laryngopharyngeal reflux is mainly diagnosed and treated by laryngologists, which generally requires laryngoscopy (indirect laryngoscopy, electronic laryngoscopy) but not gastroscopy.

What is behavioral treatment for reflux pharyngitis?

Change the bad living habits in question 2. Behavioral therapy mainly includes:

1. Do more exercise after dinner, such as walking or jogging, which is very effective in promoting gastrointestinal motility and reducing reflux.

2. Eat three meals a day regularly (eat on time).

3. Reduce mental stress and avoid sulking.

4. Go to bed on time and avoid staying up late. Treat insomnia.

5. Avoid overeating, eating too much at dinner or late-night snacks. Do not rest immediately after a meal and keep the head of the bed elevated appropriately.

6. Quit smoking and drinking, and eat less spicy food, coffee, and strong tea.

7. Avoid wearing a belt that is too tight.

8. Reduce high-fat, high-salt and high-sugar foods.

9. Reduce the intake of citrus, bayberry and other acidic fruits.

10. All drugs for treating chronic pharyngitis and anti-inflammatory drugs are prohibited, especially Chinese patent medicines.