Acid suppression does not stop all fluid from refluxing
PPIs reduce acidity, but do not mechanically prevent regurgitation; reflux type and timing may need clarification.
Several explanations may be worth exploring
- Non-acid or weakly acid refluxLiquid may still move upward despite effective suppression of gastric acid.
- Medication timing or adherencePPI timing relative to meals can alter treatment response.
- Reflux hypersensitivityNormal amounts of reflux can trigger disproportionately strong symptoms in some patients.
- Eosinophilic esophagitisDifficulty swallowing may warrant review of esophageal biopsy sampling.