Dear Dr. Hibberd: I have had problems swallowing. I take Prevacid for reflux. Could this be the cause of my swallowing issue?


Answer: Have you spoken to your doctor about this? Reflux causing esophageal damage is much more likely the reason for swallowing difficulty. I am concerned you may have a fixed obstruction, stricture or even a pre-malignant or cancer cause. I recommend you seek consultation for a scope examination of your esophagus (called an esophagoscopy. This procedure is often performed as part of a more complete EGD by your gastroenterologist or general surgeon.). I have yet to see one case of difficulty swallowing caused by Prevacid alone, despite its literature reporting this symptom in less than 1% of patients.