Will chronic laryngitis go away if i take an over-the-counter acid reflux medicine? acid reflux in the past has caused me to have chronic laryngitis. will over-the-counter reflux pills be strong enough or do i still have to take a prescription medication?

Usually : Usually you need a strong anti acid medication from the proton pump inhibitor (ppi) family. Prilosec/omeprazole is one of these and can be bought over the counter. You normally need prolonged therapy that should be monitored by a doctor. Ppis can cause weaker bones and there is a risk of worse reflux if you come off of it cold turkey.

If : If you have been diagnosed with laryngopharyngeal reflux (lpr) the treatment typically does involve ppi therapy at a dose and frequency greater than treatment for standard reflux (gerd) and for a longer period of time before symptomatic improvement is expected. While you could certainly "double up" the otc pills to get to the prescription strength, it probably will cost you more out of pocket than a prescription after you cover your copay. Dr. Wolfe is quite right regarding possible loss of bone density due to decreased calcium absorption resulting from long term use of ppi drugs. This would be particularly true in inactive patients or post menopausal women. Densitometry is a tool that can be used to monitor this. Consult with your doctor regarding these concerns.