excruciating heartburn / esophagitis
Question:
Developed after 10 days on Doxycycline as treatment for prostatitis. My gastroenterologist suspects the doxycycline is the cause. I would tend to agree, but I always took it with a full meal, so can’t quite see how it could have worked its evil on my esophagus. Anyway, assuming I have doxy induced esophagitis, my doc put me on 30mg prevacid 1x/day, and sucralfate 4x/day. So far, after only 1 day’s treatment, I am still in agony. I have slept virtually not at all the past two nights because of the pain, which is still excruciating even when fully upright. Food or lack of it does little to affect the pain. Tylenol seems to do nothing as well. Is there any medication I can take to relieve the pain so that I can sleep and let the other medicines do their work? I’ve heard of a "GI cocktail" that has lidocain in it that is used in ERs. Is there something similar OTC? TIA for any and all ideas — John.
Response:
In article <95556f1e.0402110805.5b5cc475 > Developed after 10 days on Doxycycline as treatment for prostatitis. > My gastroenterologist suspects the doxycycline is the cause. I would > tend to agree, but I always took it with a full meal, so can’t quite > see how it could have worked its evil on my esophagus. Anyway, > assuming I have doxy induced esophagitis, my doc put me on 30mg > prevacid 1x/day, and sucralfate 4x/day. So far, after only 1 day’s > treatment, I am still in agony. I have slept virtually not at all the > past two nights because of the pain, which is still excruciating even > when fully upright. Food or lack of it does little to affect the > pain. Tylenol seems to do nothing as well. Is there any medication I > can take to relieve the pain so that I can sleep and let the other > medicines do their work? I’ve heard of a "GI cocktail" that has > lidocain in it that is used in ERs. Is there something similar OTC? > TIA for any and all ideas — John.
First of all, one can take prevacid 30 mg twice a day. It is a large dose, but not that infrequently done (I’m doing it for the last month and it’s helped a lot with acid burning my throat till I could barely talk). If you’re in the US, and using our wonderful insurance plans…..your doctor will have to get special permission for the large dose, but it can be done and it will make a big difference. Also, OTC Gaviscon is different from other antacids in that it creates a barrier of foam so the acid has a harder time refluxing. If you take too much, the magnesium in it might give you some diahrrea – but again, for a little while, no harm done. In the health food camp: 1 tsp of aloe vera juice (pure) a few times a day. DGL (deglycerized licorice) tablets chewed 15 minutes before meals. Put some kind of blocks under the head of your bed so that it is at an angle – they usually recommend 6 to 8 inches. DO NOT USE EXTRA PILLOWS – you need the blocks under the top of the boxspring to create the proper angle. There are other things, such as medicines available in other countries, but not here, but those will take weeks for you to get and you’ll probably be better by then. Hope this helps and that you’re feeling better soon. Louise
