Burning sensation in esophagus

[SheilaT3271]

This is a random question. I recently took a painkiller (coated Nurophen) for a headache without water and suffered a burning sensation as a result in my esophgus. Not sure if this was because RA does have side effect of dry mouth sometimes or if my esophgus is now inflamed due to my RA but I’m continuing to have this symptom a week later making it painful to swallow/eat. After visiting a&e they tell me it’s unlikely the pill is stuck there and they’ve given me omaprezol to try to settle it but it hasn’t resolved. Any thoughts?

[Fruitandnutcase]

You should always take tablets - any tablets - with a large glass of water.

Years ago I worked with someone whose husband worked for a large well known drug company and one day I watched her taking antibiotics before having dental treatment. She washed it down with about a pint of water and when I asked why she said it was her husband’s advice and that he never swallowed any sort of pill withough about a pint of water so I figured that if he did that and knew a bit about medication then I was going to do the same.

Not sure what you can do to help now because if the problem is in your gullet and not your stomach I’m not sure if omeprazole will help, it’s for excess stomach acid.

You could always try eating dry bread like they suggest for people who have got a fish bone stuck in their throat although I imagine your tablet will have dissolved by now and you’re just left with a burning feeling. So maybe stick with bland food for a while Hopefully someone will come along with more advice.

[SheilaT3271 in reply to Fruitandnutcase]

Thanks, I would normally always take with water. Just happened to be in a place where I didn’t have access to any. Will contact my gp - just seem to be jinxed with medical issues just now on top of the RA. ☹️

[AgedCrone in reply to SheilaT3271]

Try your pharmacist….. they will be able to tell you, whether drinking plenty of water. now I might dilute what you’ve got hanging around in your throat.

[Runrig01]

sounds like acid reflux. Have you tried Gaviscon advance, needs to be the advance one. It creates a raft to prevent reflux of stomach acid into the oesophagus. It may be you need a stronger ppi than Omeprazole. NSAIDs are well known for causing this issue

[AgedCrone]

You should never take any sort of tablets without plenty of water …pills can can indeed scar your throat.

I know somebody who got a nasty infection and was on antibiotics for quite awhile because he’d taken. I think it was paracetamol without water and they dissolve in your throat and a burning sensation is what you get.

[medway-lady]

The Omeprazole might be to coat the inflammation caused perhaps when th3 tablet dissolved in the throat rather than the tum. I was also told by my Nephrologist never take a medication unless it’s prescribed to swallow dry without a glass of water. So about 330ml / half pint at the least. Should not even take with tea or coffee.

[SheilaT3271]

Thanks all for advice. Going to try Gaviscon Advance 🤞

[SteveSi]

I have had RA for over 60 years and have 3 fused neck vertebrae for most of that time which causes a throat restriction and I can easily get small tablets lodged in my gullet. I have trouble swallowing large tablets and so I had in the past gone for liquid forms of drugs or small tablets. Any slow release tablets (coated or capsule) are a particular problem when they lodge in your throat as they can take much longer to dissolve and eating food or flushing seems not to work.

I have had several episodes lasting many months of an inflamed throat due to lodged tablets or food and the problem is that it gets worse because it gets more inflamed and more restricted when other bits also get trapped. I have even had infections due to trapped food which is quite scary. So I just have to be very careful to chew all food really thoroughly before swallowing whenever I get any throat soreness (for 2-6 months).

Also, Ibuprofen is really nasty on stomachs. I once took one tablet each night and within a week I was vomiting up blood ('coffee grounds').

Due to NSAIDs/aspirin I have had a small 'ulcer' in my stomach for many years and I tried omeprazole but it made me feel terrible so I stopped.

My GP advised me to drink glasses of semi-skimmed milk but that didn't seem to work (I always used semi-skimmed milk in tea, etc. because whole milk was supposed to be bad for you). However, the current medical thinking (e.g. Zoe, etc.) is that animal fat, butter and saturated fat is not anywhere near as bad for you as they thought so I switched over to using it and drinking glasses of full fat, whole pasteurised milk about 3 years ago. Within 6 months my stomach ulcer had completely cleared up and it seemed to help my throat sensitivity too which I now have no problems with (apart from the restriction and need to chew thoroughly still).

So now, when taking tablets, I chew them and then drink full fat milk with them. This seems to work well because any small bits can be easily washed down or would dissolve quickly anyway and the fat in the milk protects my stomach (as any 'old wife' will tell you!).

You would need to check that the drug does not depend on a coating and it will still work if drinking a small amount of fat with it, but I have found that unless the medication instructions specifically say to avoid fat, it has been OK to chew them and use whole milk.

[Stills in reply to SteveSi]

Totally agree on the full fat milk (and yoghurt) for throat and stomach protection

[SheilaT3271]

Thanks Stevesi, that’s really interesting. Must admit I hate taking tablets but had little choice earlier this year as I had a fractured hip, elbow and neck on top of a bakers cyst which flared badly so I took painkillers regularly but always with liquid so lesson now learned although I don’t generally have dairy due to sinus issues. Am relieved I now rarely need a painkiller but will be very wary in the future especially as several members of my family (older siblings) have swallowing issues.

I have a regular lymphatic drainage massage for my bakers cyst and she has gently massaged my upper abdomen and this has given some relief thankfully.