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What Causes Heartburn And Excessive Throat Mucus?
Posted on
Wed, 13 Jul 2016
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Wed, 13 Jul 2016
Answered on
Tue, 2 Aug 2016
Last reviewed on
Question : I do not have heartburn but I have been suffering with a large amount of phlegm build up in my throat when I wake up in the mornings. I have tried removing things from my diet, trying different detergent (fragrance free) on sheets, bought a new anti-allergen pillow cover - nothing changes. My doctor thinks I have Acid Reflux even though I do no suffer with heartburn. I have been taking Prilosec for about 6 weeks with no change and I worry because it is linked to severe kidney disease. What could you suggest?
Brief Answer:
Possible vasomotor/irritant rhinitis
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
It's possible that the throat mucus could be from silent acid reflux, but if Prilosec hasn't helped in this amount of time, I don't think it is going to. When using an acid controller, I recommend an H2 acid reducer such as Zantac 150 mg, which is safer than the proton pump inhibitors, for things other than severe gastric ulcers, etc. So I would recommend tapering off the Prilosec. I say taper, because people can get rebound acid reflux from discontinuation.
As we age, there is more chance of irritant/vasomotor rhinitis. This is usually caused by fragrances, smoke, and other chemical irritants. It increases as we age. For some people there is a runny nose, for others, there is mucus build up in the throat. For this, you can try a steroid nasal spray such as Flonase once a day to see if it helps stabilize the sinus mucosa that may be producing this phlegm. It may take a week or two to see if it is helping. If it helps a little but not enough, you can use it twice a day.
Making your bedroom as allergen free as possible is important. The dust mite pillow cover is good. Wash your bedding regularly in hot water of at least 140 degrees to kill dust mites (although dust mites are not a big issue at this time of year). Sleep with bedroom window closed. Don't dry laundry outside. And don't let your pets sleep in the bedroom.
Those are recommendations for decreasing allergens in case there is an allergic component to this problem.
The final thing to consider is if the mucus is very thick, you can try guaifenesin (Mucinex) plus lots of water. Guaifenesin is a mucolytic which thins mucus by drawing water to it and allows it to move without feeling stuck in your throat. Guaifenesin is a very safe drug that has been around for many years. You can take a long acting form of it before you go to bed.
I hope this information helps. Please let me know if I can provide further information.
Possible vasomotor/irritant rhinitis
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
It's possible that the throat mucus could be from silent acid reflux, but if Prilosec hasn't helped in this amount of time, I don't think it is going to. When using an acid controller, I recommend an H2 acid reducer such as Zantac 150 mg, which is safer than the proton pump inhibitors, for things other than severe gastric ulcers, etc. So I would recommend tapering off the Prilosec. I say taper, because people can get rebound acid reflux from discontinuation.
As we age, there is more chance of irritant/vasomotor rhinitis. This is usually caused by fragrances, smoke, and other chemical irritants. It increases as we age. For some people there is a runny nose, for others, there is mucus build up in the throat. For this, you can try a steroid nasal spray such as Flonase once a day to see if it helps stabilize the sinus mucosa that may be producing this phlegm. It may take a week or two to see if it is helping. If it helps a little but not enough, you can use it twice a day.
Making your bedroom as allergen free as possible is important. The dust mite pillow cover is good. Wash your bedding regularly in hot water of at least 140 degrees to kill dust mites (although dust mites are not a big issue at this time of year). Sleep with bedroom window closed. Don't dry laundry outside. And don't let your pets sleep in the bedroom.
Those are recommendations for decreasing allergens in case there is an allergic component to this problem.
The final thing to consider is if the mucus is very thick, you can try guaifenesin (Mucinex) plus lots of water. Guaifenesin is a mucolytic which thins mucus by drawing water to it and allows it to move without feeling stuck in your throat. Guaifenesin is a very safe drug that has been around for many years. You can take a long acting form of it before you go to bed.
I hope this information helps. Please let me know if I can provide further information.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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