Why Regurgitation Doesn't Respond to Acid Blockers Like Heartburn
Why Doesn’t Regurgitation Improve with Acid Blockers Like Heartburn Does?
Regurgitation responds significantly less to acid suppression therapy compared to heartburn because it involves mechanical reflux of stomach contents rather than just acid-induced esophageal irritation. While proton pump inhibitors effectively reduce acid production and improve heartburn in 70-80% of patients, regurgitation symptoms improve in only 40-50% of cases, requiring different therapeutic approaches.
Dr. Kumar’s Take
This research highlights a critical clinical point - not all GERD symptoms are created equal. Regurgitation is fundamentally a mechanical problem involving the lower esophageal sphincter and stomach emptying, while heartburn is primarily acid-mediated tissue irritation. When patients continue having regurgitation despite good heartburn control on PPIs, we need to think beyond acid suppression and consider motility issues, anatomical problems, or lifestyle factors.