Certain Medications Can Worsen Acid Reflux Symptoms. Antidepressants, like any other medication, can have side effects. Some of these are beneficial, perhaps giving regular sleep to the insomniac. But some are not beneficial, as antidepressants that predispose with acid reflux disease. That means you can begin antidepressants without having acid reflux, and then get acid reflux.
Mayo Clinic Advice on Acid Reflux and Various Medications
There’s a good reason to tell the doctor who is treating your acid-reflux about all the medications you are taking. While the gastrointestinal tract is an amazingly well-designed system, when it’s subjected to various stresses including the effects of certain medications, its function can become compromised.
GERD, or acid reflux as the medical condition is also called, happens when the sphincter between the esophagus and the stomach relaxes too much to keep the contents of the stomach from escaping back into the esophagus. While the stomach lining is designed for an acid environment, the esophagus is not and so when stomach acids backwash into the delicate tube, irritation and inflammation can result.
According to Mayo Clinic, a number of medications can exacerbate acid reflux disease. These include “anticholinergics such as oxybutynin (Ditropan), hyoscyamine (Levsinex) and certain antidepressants.”
Sedatives and pain medications can also worsen GERD symptoms since they tend to relax the lower esophageal sphincter. Products like Valium, Restoril, codeine, and hydrocodone are in this category. Also, theophylline (Elixophyllin, Uniphyl), calcium channel blockers and nitrates, and progesterone can have similar effects. Other medicines and even dietary supplements can also be contraindicated in patients trying to manage acid reflux, according to the Mayo Clinic. “Especially when used on a regular basis... [these] can increase inflammation that GERD causes in the esophagus.”
Tricyclic Antidepressants
There are many kinds of antidepressantsone antidepressant does not work for everyone. I take Prozac and it works very well, but my own child can’t touch the stuff as it intensifies her depression. The priority is to keep taking the antidepressant if it helps you manage your depression. Antidepressants can be life saving medicines. Acid reflux is a small price to pay for getting to a good life. Tell your doctor and follow his or her advice.
Tricyclic antidepressants that predispose with acid reflux side effects. They came out in the 1950’s and help slow down and relax your muscles, including your stomach muscles keeping the stomach acid in place. Generic names for tricyclic antidepressants that predispose with acid reflux effects are imipramine, desipramine, trimipramine, any other antidepressant with the “pramine” or “triptaline” suffix, doxepin and dothieapin hydrochloride.
What Can You Do Antidepressants That Predispose Some With Acid Reflux Disease?
Do you get nauseated when under pressure? Stress can get the stomach acid flowing. You need to learn how to better handle stress. You can do that through continuing to take your antidepressants, meditation, autosuggestion, yoga, writing or learning to laugh at yourself. Your doctor or therapist can help you select the best stress management system for you. There is always hope. And if you take antidepressants that predispose with acid reflux disease and don’t have acid reflux disease, don’t worry about it greatly. You might not get acid reflux disease.
There are many things you can do to lessen the discomfort, should you need to take antidepressants that predispose with acid reflux symptoms. You can drink more water, cut down or cut out smoking and alcoholic beverages, eat a well-balanced and healthy diet, and sit up for at least a half hour after eating or drinking something to give it a chance to settle into your body. You can try eating probiotics-laden yogurt (which is easily available) or take probiotics supplements. You can also buy acid reflux pillows that prevent you from lying completely flat as you sleep and let the stomach acid creep up your throat. I hope this article on antidepressants that predispose with acid reflux disease helps you.
Free Acid Reflux Articles:
Antidepressants That Predispose Some With Acid Reflux Disease
