Acid reflux drugs don't treat all cases

A new study has found that proton-pump inhibitors, popular drugs used to treat acid reflux, are better at treating heartburn, but not regurgitation, in which fluid from the stomach rises up into the back of the mouth. The fluid often contains stomach acid, creating a bitter taste. It's not uncommon for patients to report that a PPI takes care of the burning in their chest, but they still taste bitter fluid after meals, said Joel Richter, chief of medicine at Temple. But for people with this "much less common symptom," surgery is often the solution. "Bad acid regurgitation is a mechanical problem and the PPIs are unlikely to be a cure-all," he said.
Reuters | June 3, 2011