Nitroglycerin for esophageal spasm
Common Questions and Answers about Nitroglycerin for esophageal spasm
nitrostat
I was just diagnosed with esophageal spasm. I have terrible chest and back pain that comes pretty close to the open-heart surgery I've had in the past. It came on really quickly and the doctor has me on Prilosec and antacids after meals and at bedtime, and she just added viscous lidocaine solution to numb the esophagus. I'm eating a low acidic diet and combining my foods properly. Has anyone out there had this terrible thing and if so, any other suggestions?
For the spasms themselves, the drug of choice is an anti-spasm med. These meds can include drugs such as bentyl, nitroglycerin and certain specific calcium channel blockers. Librax is typically not suggested for either contdition as it can result in relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter and an increase in reflux into the esophagus. Many drugs affect the LES and they should be avoided.
Joe, ask your doc to try some antispasm meds for the esophageal spasms. Some of the more 'general' antispasm meds include Bentyl and associated products. A 'step-up' (but stepping up also means possibly more side-effects) would be nitroglycerin which works extremely well for some people. Then there are also specific calcium channel blockers.
While chest pain that gets better with nitroglycerin can be suggestive of agina, there are several other types of chest pain, such esophageal spasm, that can get better after nitroglycerin. Exercise tests and stress echocardiograms are screening test for coronary artery disease. If these screening tests are abnormal, the next step is most likely a cardiac catheterization and angiogram in order to look definitively at your coronary arteries.
Glen, if they're esophageal spasms, you could talk to the doc about taking some anti-spasm med like Bentyl. Some people also take meds such as nitroglycerin or some specific calcium channel blockers - but that's only if it's spasms.
When ballooning is done, it's typically due to something like a stricture - 'constant' narrowing or closure of the lower end of the esophagus.
I've been having esophageal spasms continuously for 2 months now. I had an endoscopy with a dilation, and diagnosis of hiatal hernia, only 2cm. The spasms never stop, but get worse with the usual triggers: acidic foods, cold drinks. They started getting better with Prilosec and when I get good sleep they feel better. I've lost 80 pounds in the last year, 30 of those I've lost in a month and a half because of not wanting to eat due to pain.
Nitroglycerin can also relieve esophageal spasm, it's not reliable for differential diagnosis of cardiac vs GI origin for chest pain. I've been through this recently myself and don't have any answers either. Nitro (sublingual) sometimes helped and sometimes didn't. Then on Friday I had a stress echo, my second in six months, again definitely negative. I'm also on Prevacid so my cardiologist doesn't think it's GI related but he also doesn't think it's cardiac.
Ephedrine is known to cause coronary artery spasm. Depending on how long the spasm last, one can have a heart attack related to it. This is why patients with this condition should always carry nitroglycerin with them at all times.
s happening as often as you describe and has been going on for more than 2 weeks. Esophageal spasms may be a consequence of the acid, but every you mention--the pain/pressure in chest like there's air, the breathing issues, the coughing--all sound like acid reflux. Esophageal spasms are less likely.
There are meds that can be tried when someone has diagnosed esophageal spasms. Specific anti-spasm meds such as bentry and a few others. Some of the stronger ones have some deleterious side-effects and their use can be problematic so they have to be closely monitored. Are you working with a good gastroenterologist? If not, ask your doc for a referral.
Thanks for the info. I get the pain in the center of my chest so I assume that is the esophagus, but I still don't get why I get pain from my heart area that radiates at time across my chest and into my shoulder and outside left breast area. I'll call the doctor's to ask about the meds you mentioned. The doctor didn't bring these up but did say I would need to stop the PPI 5 days before the test. I wonder if these would affect my test results?
The aim of treatment is to relieve symptoms by decreasing pressure in the lower esophageal sphincter. Nitrates (for example, nitroglycerin placed under the tongue before meals) or calcium channel blockers.
Arthritis has inflammatory characteristics and very little if anything to do with dilated vessels, etc.
Is there another name for 'esophageal dysmotility'?? As i have been diagnosed with this by my consultant gastroenterologist, and want to find more info, resources, etc to help with educating and coping with my condition. but can't find much info anywhere on the web, about 'esophageal dysmotility' at all.
Just wondering if it is normal for an esophageal spasm to start as a milder pain/uncomfortableness in abdomen and then build up to excruciating pain over 20-30 minutes?
I have a problem which is called Esophageal Spasm, which whenever I eat anything, the food stays in my esophaugus and doesn't go down to my stomach so, I can feel it that food doesn't reach to the end which is my stomache so, my doctor gave me Procardia 60 mg and it didn't help and this time He gave me Procardia 90 mg, to see maybe higher dosage will help and today I am starting it for 1 month (once a day) and He told me if it didn't help , He has to use a Baloon Dialations to o
Lael, the way to check for esophageal spasms is to have an esophageal manometry study done. Severe chest pains can feel like a heart attack to some. They're not always found during an EGD. When you're sedated as you were for the EGD, the spasms may be 'blocked' from happening. There are a number of meds you can try such as bentyl (and related compounds), nitroglycerin, or specific calcium channel blockers.
Hi, I know this is kind of outdated, but its quite interesting topic.
I have a girlfriend that has (seriously painful) esophagus spasm. Well the doctor have the impression that it has nothing to do with the nissen fundoplication surgery that she also have went through. But I have another opinion. And when I read this and this previous thread : http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Gastroenterology/Esophageal-Spasm-following-Nissan-Lap-Fundiplication/show/232251
I can see that it has to be a connection.
I believe I have come to accept that I cannot get medical intervention for my esophageal spasms. My cardiologist says my heart is perfect. I have slight acid reflux, a hiatus hernia and 90% esophageal motility. I have what I call "Bubbles and Ka-thunks" in my chest. The bubbles are little butterfly-like spasms in my chest that are annoying but not painful. The Ka-thunks are a little more brutal.
Have had acid reflux for a couple years, controlled fairly effectively with protonix. However, for the past 9 months it's gotten severe, daily, and symptoms are after I eat something, worse in evenings. Have had H-pylori, upper GI, endoscopy--nothing significant. Ultrasound of thyroid too. Nothing works, have tried omeprazole, famotidine, reglan, antacids, ranitidine, and others.
has anyone else had esophageal spasms that were a) extremely painful, and lasting for 2 or 3 hours; and b) where the pain is at least slightly alleviated by leaning forward?
thanks.
I have had them for 6 years. Every one of the 7 doctors I have seen for this spasm, ONLY 1 has said it could be esophageal spasms and the rest says it's nothing.
Oh and I wish I didn't read about the vagus nerve.... I have had a fear that I'm going to have a seizure one day and that didn't make me feel any better. I keep having these feelings like something is wrong and I need to have it found soon, but I don't know what it is.
That's a better description of esophageal spasm.I would pay attention to those things and medications for GERD, diet, amount of food, not smoking or being around smoke, bubbly drinks, spicy things.You really have to get a balance on that hygiene that affects the food tube and stomach.The upper GI and scope you had done eliminates the hiatal hernia aspect and any obstructions. The pain from any type of spasm, like a charley horse, hurts.
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