A note on Ambien and GERD association!

Zolpidem (Ambien) dramatically increases the new event and duration of gastroesophageal reflux (GERD)., Patients with established diagnosis of GERD had reflux events measured to be significantly longer when taking zolpidem than on placebo.

Proposed mechansim of action: This is assumed to be due to suppression of arousal during the reflux event, which would normally result in a swallowing reflex to clear gastric acid from the esophagus.

Long term effect includes development of  esophageal cancer.


Reference: Gagliardi GS, Shah AP, Goldstein M, Denua-Rivera S, Doghramji K, Cohen S, Dimarino AJ (September 2009). "Effect of zolpidem on the sleep arousal response to nocturnal esophageal acid exposure". Clin. Gastroenterol. Hepatol. 7 (9): 948–52.