Causes of GERD: Can Painkillers Make Heartburn Worse?
There seems to be no end to the list of foods, drinks, and other lifestyle choices that can aggravate your heartburn symptoms, and most of us know the big triggers: spicy foods, chocolate, caffeine, alcohol, and fatty foods. But there’s another, little-known trigger that may surprise you.
Can Painkillers Cause Heartburn?
Unbeknownst to many chronic reflux sufferers, painkillers are one of the medications to avoid with GERD. But why do painkillers worsen reflux symptoms, and what can you do to reduce the impact on your GERD symptoms?
Painkillers, like non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), work by artificially reducing inflammation in the body; they also block pain signals from reaching your brain. Unfortunately, these drugs contribute to a high-acid environment, especially in the stomach, where they are dissolved. While painkillers may not be the leading cause of your heartburn, they can undoubtedly aggravate it and make it far worse.
What To Do if Painkillers Aggravate Your Heartburn
#1: Switch Your Meds
If you find that painkillers seem to be giving you heartburn, the first thing to take note of is the kind of painkillers you’re taking. Common heartburn culprits usually include aspirin, naxproxen, and ibuprofen. So try switching to acetaminophen-based medications (like Tylenol). Acetaminophen is a good pain-killing alternative that in most patients has little, if any effect on the stomach lining, saving you from a reflux attack.
#2: Wean off the Medication
If your digestive system is particularly sensitive to reflux, however, simply switching medications may not do the trick. So instead, ask yourself why you are taking painkillers so often. If the pain is less disruptive than your heartburn, see if you can wean yourself off the pain medication or stop taking it altogether.
#3: Take a Lower Dose
You can also try taking a lower dose. If you can tolerate the lower dose with a little bit more pain一 but your acid reflux significantly improves一 you can make the call for yourself. Keep in mind that, while pain is difficult to deal with, continuous acid reflux can cause damage to the esophagus and even lead to cancer. Pain from a chronic condition won’t necessarily get worse. You have to make this decision and decide what to do if you find that a lower dose of pain medication relieves your GERD symptoms.
#4: Visit a Reflux Specialist
There are other options when it comes to alleviating your acid reflux symptoms. It’s not recommended that you take additional medications, especially if your GERD seems to be rooted in medication, to begin with. Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and H2 blockers will alleviate your heartburn, but they don’t resolve the foundational issue: a weakened lower esophageal sphincter (LES).
Furthermore, if you’re ready to kick GERD to the curb, we offer reflux surgeries to resolve your heartburn for good. Ready for a consultation? Contact our office today!