Gabapentin is a commonly-used medication for the treatment of neuropathic pain (e.g. peripheral neuropathy), restless leg syndrome, and seizure prevention & management – as well as other conditions like anxiety disorders & substance use disorders (off-label). Although many find gabapentin effective as a treatment for the aforementioned medical conditions, some are concerned about the drug …
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 …
How being overweight/obese may cause reflux… Emerenziani et al. (2020) highlighted a variety of ways in which obesity could contribute to reflux conditions (e.g. GERD) and a host of other gastrointestinal disorders. (R) Transient LES relaxation (TLESR): This is thought to be the primary mechanism by which being overweight/obese causes/exacerbates reflux. The primary stimulus for …
Laryngopharyngeal Reflux Research Findings (2022) Brief takeaways from LPR research in 2022 are compiled below in list format. Age associated with LPR: Older age is associated with increased risk of LPR. Alginate suspension vs. PPI (omeprazole): Thrice daily administration of alginate suspension (magnesium alginate) might be as effective as omeprazole (20 mg) – when combined …