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What Causes A Gagging Sensation In The Throat While Falling Asleep?

Posted on Fri, 2 Dec 2022

Question: Hi, I have this problem since about 3 months, it is really making me miserable. Every night when I go to sleep, at the point where I just fall asleep, I wake up with a very strong sensation in my throat and a gagging feeling as if I need to throw up. This keeps happening every time I'm about to fall asleep until I am so exhausted that I just fall asleep anyway. I don't know what to do.

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (39 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Possibility of GERD is more.

Detailed Answer:

Hi,

The way you are describing your symptoms, possibility of GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) is more likely. GERD is due to laxity of gastroesophageal sphincter. Because of this, the acid of the stomach tends to come up in the esophagus and cause central chest pain, throat pain, gagging, nausea (feeling of throwing up) etc.

So please let me know
1. Do you have burning epigastric pain?
2. Do you feel more symptoms when you eat heavy or spicy food in dinner?
3. Do you smoke or drink alcohol?
With above replies I can guide you better.

Treatment of GERD is Pantoprazole and Levosulpiride combination on empty stomach twice daily.

I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health.

Thanks.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj