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Daily, I Have A Gagging Sensation. I Have Not Been
Posted on
Thu, 18 Jul 2019
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Thu, 18 Jul 2019
Answered on
Last reviewed on
Question : daily, i have a gagging sensation. i have not been sleeping well and the gagging sensation is always present.
just a fyi, my original issue that the antibiotic was prescribed for included severe dry mouth, post nasal drip which resulted in a raw throat. after taking antibiotics, my throat was no longer raw however the gagging sensation appeared. currently i feel this sensation daily and it originates from chest to my throat. fluids only provide temporary relief
Brief Answer:
Possible causes and helpful measures explained below
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to 'Ask a Doctor' service,
I read your query and understand your concern.
There are two main conditions to consider when it comes to increased gagging. One is acid reflux from the stomach (GERD) and the other is a postnasal drip. Rarely stress may contribute as well.
You may benefit from the following measures:
- Use Omeprazole 40 mg in the morning 30 minutes before breakfast.
- You will need to eat frequent small amounts of food (5 small meals instead of on 2-3 big ones in a day). Last meal should be at least 3-4 hours before bedtime.
- The same thing applies for water and juices, they should be taken in frequent small amounts and not much 3-4 hours before bed.
- Avoid coffee in the evenings and do not take more than 1-2 coffees a day.
- Avoid smoking, even passive smoking (if at all)
- Nasal lavage with a normal saline solution daily ( 0.9%) may help clear the nasal passages and thin the sections.
- Fluticasone nasal spray 1-2 times a day in each nostril may reduce postnasal drip.
- If you notice no improvement with the above measures in a week or you notice any worsening you will need to see your doctor again.
Let me know if I can assist you further.
Possible causes and helpful measures explained below
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to 'Ask a Doctor' service,
I read your query and understand your concern.
There are two main conditions to consider when it comes to increased gagging. One is acid reflux from the stomach (GERD) and the other is a postnasal drip. Rarely stress may contribute as well.
You may benefit from the following measures:
- Use Omeprazole 40 mg in the morning 30 minutes before breakfast.
- You will need to eat frequent small amounts of food (5 small meals instead of on 2-3 big ones in a day). Last meal should be at least 3-4 hours before bedtime.
- The same thing applies for water and juices, they should be taken in frequent small amounts and not much 3-4 hours before bed.
- Avoid coffee in the evenings and do not take more than 1-2 coffees a day.
- Avoid smoking, even passive smoking (if at all)
- Nasal lavage with a normal saline solution daily ( 0.9%) may help clear the nasal passages and thin the sections.
- Fluticasone nasal spray 1-2 times a day in each nostril may reduce postnasal drip.
- If you notice no improvement with the above measures in a week or you notice any worsening you will need to see your doctor again.
Let me know if I can assist you further.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
Answered by
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