Medslant Acid Reflux Newsletter

Heartburn Drugs

There is news about heartburn drugs and their makers.

The US Department of Health and Human Services announced that one of every 10 Americans was prescribed at least one (1) gastrointestinal medication on an outpatient basis in 2007. Compared to 1997, this represents a 60% rise in the number of Americans prescribed the drugs and a 170% increase in total dollars - $18.9 billion in 2007, $7 billion in 1997 - spent on these meds. Amounts were adjusted to 2007 dollars. The percentage of Americans prescribed at least one GI med rose across all income, age, and race categories.

Astra Zeneca, maker of Nexium and other drugs, while continuing to be a research focused company, will cease research into several medications for diseases including heartburn. 2008 sales of Nexium were just under five (5) billion dollars. Like other pharmaceutical companies, Astra Zeneca is seeking to cut costs and increase the possibility of success of new drugs for which healthcare systems and insurers will pay. Although they will keep all of their seven therapy areas including gastrointestinal, they will stop drug development work in these areas. The patents for many of these drugs are expiring soon, leaving openings for more generics.

Takeda Pharmaceuticals is changing the name of their heartburn drug Kapidex to Dexilant. Kapidex was approved in January, 2010, and the FDA says pharmacists have confused its name with Casodex, a prostate cancer drug and Kadian, a narcotic pain reliever. The change is effective April, 2010.

Sreek Cherukuri, Md

I'm introducing you to Sreek Cherukuri, MD, a board certified Otolaryngologist (ear, nose and throat physician) who will, from time to time, be a contributor to our newsletter. In addition to practicing in the Chicago area, Dr. Cherukuri has created an affordable line of hearing aids called Acoustitone. Because 34 million Americans experience hearing loss and only 24% use hearing aids, Dr. Cherukuri has made hearing aids that are affordable and that work - the equivalent of reading glasses for the ears. If you or someone you know would benefit from hearing help, please visit his website, www.MDHearingAid.com or call 888.670.HEAR(4327) for more information.

Many of Dr. Cherukuri's patients have symptoms related to GERD. Here is what he has to say:

"As an ENT physician, I frequently see patients with a variety of symptoms that I know are related to GERD. Heartburn and indigestion are well-known, but there is a very common symptom that I see that most patients have not linked to GERD: post-nasal drip. The most common cause of post-nasal drip is of course, nasal and sinus conditions, such as colds, sinus infections, and allergies. However, these conditions share one common factor: if there is post-nasal drip, there generally must be pre-nasal drip (nasal and sinus drainage will drain out the front of the nose and down the back of the throat). In many patients I see, they have no nasal or sinus complaints except post-nasal drip. In these patients, the diagnosis is often at least in part due to undiagnosed or untreated GERD. Sometimes, the only symptom of GERD is post-nasal drip. After a thorough examination to rule out any other causes, I find that these patients improve with GERD treatment: diet changes (avoid smoking, caffeine, and certain foods, etc), lifestyle changes (elevate through the torso when sleeping, weight loss, etc), and GERD medications."

--
Disclaimer: This section by Dr Cherukuri is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice or substitute for professional care. Dr Cherukuri does not provide medical advice and this is not a professional or clinical consultation. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read in this newsletter. An examination or decision by a doctor can not be completed unless he/she had personally examined the patient through professional consultation.
--

Otc Heartburn Meds - Can You Take Too Many?

OTC antacids are fine for infrequent symptoms or the occasional attack of heartburn provided you pay close attention to dosage directions. But, warns Anish Sheth, MD, a gastroenterologist and professor of medicine at Yale University, be careful about taking too many. According to Dr. Sheth, antacid overdose is seldom a problem. Antacids generally contain calcium, magnesium, and aluminum salts mixed with hydroxide or bicarbonate. The main concern lies with ingesting too much calcium.

Too much calcium can, according to the Mayo Clinic, in severe cases, cause constipation, abdominal pain, excessive thirst, and nausea.

OTC antacids are fast acting because they neutralize the acid that causes heartburn and they work quickly. But they are also a short term fix - most people who suffer from heartburn need long term relief.

You should not take OTC antacids without the knowledge and permission of your doctor if you have kidney disease.

Don't take more than one antacid or acid reducer at a time unless recommended by your physician.

And, if you experience heartburn or other GERD symptoms more than twice a week that aren't being helped by lifestyle changes and OTC meds, or you have taken OCT meds for two weeks without relief, be sure to consult your physician or other health care professional.

Please keep the emails and phone calls coming to customersrvice@medslant.com and 1.800.346.1850. I love hearing from you.

Wishing you a good night's sleep,

Adele

Customer Feedback: "I wanted to write you a note to say thank you. I have lived with sleep apnea for several years now and have tried many remedies to correct my problem. Working closely with doctors, I thought my last resort would be surgery only to find out that I'm not a good candidate for the operation. Through x-rays I found that the air flow problems that the surgical procedure corrects were not an issue for me. I felt like my last option towards better health and a good night's sleep was gone.

Concerned with the long term health issues that relate to sleep apnea, I took a chance and invested into your MedSlant pillow. After spending literally thousands of dollars on CPAP machines and custom dental mouth pieces I was hesitant to spend more money on a pillow.

After only a few weeks with the MedSlant pillow, I feel better with every waking morning. I honestly can't convey the difference that it has made in my life! I can't say that it has totally cured my sleep apnea but it has made a profound change in my life. I have slept without the pillow and I find that I revert back to feeling extra tired and lethargic throughout the day. Having a good night's sleep is so crucial to one's everyday activity, not to mention the long term effects that sleep deprivation has on a person's physical health. Thank you!" -- Denis Coursol, Canada



Back to Newsletters