GERD: Can certain medications make it worse?

Answer Section

Certain medicines and dietary supplements can irritate the lining of the tube that connects the mouth to the stomach, called the esophagus. This can cause heartburn pain that is like the heartburn of gastroesophageal reflux disease, often called GERD for short. Other medicines can make GERD worse.

GERD is an ongoing, called chronic, condition in which stomach acid flows back into the esophagus. This backward flow of acid irritates the lining of the esophagus and leads to heartburn and pain.

Medicines and dietary supplements that can irritate the esophagus and cause heartburn pain that is like the pain of GERD include:

• Antibiotics, such as tetracycline and clindamycin.
• Bisphosphonates taken by mouth, such as alendronate (Binosto, Fosamax), ibandronate and risedronate (Actonel, Atelvia).
• Iron supplements.
• Quinidine.
• Pain relievers, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) and aspirin.
• Potassium supplements.

Medicines and dietary supplements that may increase acid reflux and worsen GERD include:

• Anticholinergics, such as oxybutynin, prescribed for overactive bladder and irritable bowel syndrome.
• Tricyclic antidepressants, such as amitriptyline, and doxepin (Silenor).
• Calcium channel blockers, statins, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, and nitrates used for high blood pressure and heart disease.
• Narcotics, also called opioids, such as codeine, and those that have hydrocodone and acetaminophen.
• Progesterone.
• Sedatives or tranquilizers, including benzodiazepines such as diazepam (Valium) and temazepam (Restoril).
• Theophylline (Elixophyllin, Theochron).

If you have GERD, ask your healthcare professional if medicines you take might affect your symptoms.