What medications are used for esophageal spasms?

Peppermint oil, onabotulinumtoxin A (Botox) injections or calcium channel blockers, such as diltiazem (Cardizem, Tiazac, others), can reduce the severity of spasms.

How do you treat diffuse esophageal spasms?

Treatment options include:

  1. Botulinum toxin (BoTox®). Botulinum toxin is a poison produced by the bacteria that causes botulism.
  2. Drugs to relax the muscles. While medications can help some patients, they are not effective overall.
  3. Peppermint oil.
  4. Surgery to cut the muscles along the lower esophagus.

Does omeprazole help esophageal spasms?

Your doctor also may recommend over-the-counter acid reducers, such as famotidine (Pepcid AC), cimetidine (Tagamet HB), or omeprazole (Prilosec). Eat several small meals instead of two or three large meals. After you eat, wait 2 to 3 hours before you lie down. Chocolate, mint, and alcohol can make GERD worse.

Which calcium channel blocker is best for esophageal spasm?

Treatment of Diffuse Esophageal Spasm Calcium channel blockers given orally (eg, verapamil 80 mg 3 times a day, nifedipine 10 mg 3 times a day) may be useful.

Can esophageal spasms be caused by anxiety?

It is not always clear what causes esophageal spasms, but some factors may put the nerves in the esophagus at risk of malfunctioning. These factors include: anxiety and depression. GERD.

Does diltiazem help esophageal spasm?

Diltiazem, in our study, did not yield in a significant improvement of symptoms in diffuse oesophageal spasm. Diltiazem, however, can offer relief in selected individual patients suffering from diffuse oesophageal spasm.

What are esophageal spasms?

Esophageal spasms. Overview. Esophagus The esophagus is a muscular tube that connects your mouth and your stomach. Rings of muscle (sphincters) in the upper and lower portions contract and relax to allow food and liquid to pass. Esophageal spasms are painful contractions within the muscular tube connecting your mouth and stomach (esophagus).

How is EGJ relaxation assessed in esophageal obstruction?

EGJ relaxation is assessed using IRP, which corresponds to the 4-s period of the lowest EGJ pressure within the deglutitive window. aEGJ outflow obstruction (defined as mean IRP ≥ 15 mm Hg in association with some instances of peristalsis) may be associated with hypercontractile swallow.

What are the endoscopic features of esophageal spastic disorders?

Esophageal spastic disorders can present with dysphagia, chest pain, regurgitations, and/or heartburn. Because the defining endoscopic features may also occur in the setting of EGJ obstruction, endoscopic examination is required when esophageal spastic disorders are suspected to evaluate for mechanical obstruction.

How does an esophageal spasm move food?

A healthy esophagus normally moves food into your stomach through a series of coordinated muscle contractions. Esophageal spasms make it difficult for the muscles in the walls of your lower esophagus to coordinate in order to move food to your stomach. There are two types of esophageal spasms: Occasional contractions…