In late 2021 I began experiencing persistent “globus sensation” accompanied by a “burning sensation” in the back of my throat. An urgent care doctor diagnosed sinusitis but suspected that acid reflux could be the cause – and thus referred me to an ENT who diagnosed GERD/LPR. Prior to my diagnosis, I searched for natural things …
Trazodone is a serotonin receptor antagonist and reuptake inhibitor (SARI) that is used primarily for the treatment of major depression. It is also utilized as an off-label treatment for anxiety disorders (e.g. generalized anxiety disorder; panic disorder; PTSD; OCD) and sleep disorders (e.g. insomnia). Although trazodone is an extremely effective drug for various medical conditions …
Earlier this year while listening to podcasts about sleep and insomnia, I stumbled upon the neuroscientist Andrew Huberman of the “Huberman Lab” podcast who discussed melatonin with Matthew Walker (sleep neuroscientist). While discussing melatonin, Huberman stated that he personally avoids it in part due to studies showing that melatonin significantly shrinks testicles and ovaries of …
Alprazolam (Xanax) is a fast-acting, medium-duration benzodiazepine that was patented in 1971 and approved for medical use in the U.S. in 1981. As of 2019, alprazolam was the 41st most-prescribed medication in the U.S. with over 17M annual prescriptions. It is commonly used for the short-term treatment of anxiety disorders, panic disorder, and generalized anxiety …
Diphenhydramine is a first-generation ethanolamine antihistamine developed by George Rieveschl and was approved for usage in 1946. In the U.S. and Canada – diphenhydramine is the primary active ingredient in the over-the-counter medication “Benadryl.” As of 2017, diphenhydramine was the 241st most commonly prescribed medication in the U.S. – exceeding 2M prescriptions. Total usage of …
Stretta is a minimally-invasive procedure that delivers a series of radiofrequency bursts to the gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) to enhance both tone and integrity of the LES via induction of fibrosis and/or hypertrophy. It is thought that enhancement of LES tone and integrity can improve certain chronic reflux conditions such as: GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) and …