From the Guidelines
Treatment for acid reflux should begin with a 4- to 8-week trial of single-dose proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy, with escalation to twice-a-day dosing or switching to a more potent acid suppressive agent if symptoms persist, as recommended by the most recent guidelines 1. The goal of treatment is to alleviate symptoms, prevent complications, and improve quality of life.
- Lifestyle modifications are also crucial, including avoiding trigger foods, eating smaller meals, elevating the head of the bed, maintaining a healthy weight, and quitting smoking.
- Patients should receive education on GERD pathophysiology and lifestyle modifications, and be involved in a shared decision-making model 1.
- For patients with typical reflux symptoms and no alarm symptoms, a stepwise diagnostic approach can identify mechanisms driving symptoms for a precision management approach 1.
- Symptom response should prompt PPI titration to the lowest effective dose, and when long-term PPI therapy is planned, objective reflux testing should be offered to establish a diagnosis of GERD and a long-term management plan 1.
- In cases where symptoms persist despite initial treatment, further evaluation and consideration of other conditions such as GERD, esophagitis, or other complications may be necessary, and a precision approach to escalation of management should be driven by factors such as integrity of the anti-reflux barrier, presence of visceral hypersensitivity and hypervigilance, and confirmation of PPI refractory-GERD 1.
From the FDA Drug Label
1.7 Treatment of Symptomatic Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) Lansoprazole delayed-release capsules are indicated for short-term treatment in adults and pediatric patients 12 to 17 years of age (up to eight weeks) and pediatric patients one to 11 years of age (up to 12 weeks) for the treatment of heartburn and other symptoms associated with GERD [see Clinical Studies ( 14.7)]. 1.4 Treatment of Symptomatic Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) Omeprazole delayed-release capsules are indicated for the treatment of heartburn and other symptoms associated with GERD for up to 4 weeks in patients 2 years of age and older.
Treatment for acid reflux includes:
- Lansoprazole: for short-term treatment of symptomatic gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in adults and pediatric patients 12 to 17 years of age (up to eight weeks) and pediatric patients one to 11 years of age (up to 12 weeks) 2
- Omeprazole: for the treatment of heartburn and other symptoms associated with GERD for up to 4 weeks in patients 2 years of age and older 3
From the Research
Treatment Options for Acid Reflux
- Lifestyle modifications are critical for the management of acid reflux disease, including dietary changes and weight loss 4
- Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are effective in treating gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), with high healing rates and symptom relief 5, 6
- PPIs are recommended as a first-line therapy for GERD, but their long-term use has raised concerns about adverse events and overprescribing 7
- Alternative treatments, such as vonoprazan, a potassium-competitive acid blocker, have shown promise in healing GERD, particularly in patients with severe erosive esophagitis 8
Medication Options
- PPIs, such as omeprazole, lansoprazole, and esomeprazole, are commonly used to treat GERD 5, 6
- Vonoprazan has been shown to be more effective than some PPIs, such as rabeprazole, in healing GERD 8
- The choice of medication depends on the severity of symptoms, patient response, and potential side effects 7