Drug-induced esophagitis and helpful management for healthcare providers

Abstract

In recent decades, the number of cases developing drug-induced esophagitis (DIE) has reportedly been growing, which indicates the significance of detecting medicines capable of causing this adverse reaction. This study aims to provide an updated review on recent case reports of DIE, to evaluate the possible mechanism of this side effect, and to provide helpful management. Data was gathered through searches of three databases, namely PubMed, Medline, and Cochrane. Seven drug categories were evaluated: antibiotics, bisphosphonates, cardiovascular medicines, chemotherapeutic agents, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), other medications, and supplements. According to the findings, retrosternal pain, heartburn, odynophagia, and dysphagia are typical symptoms of DIE, and in most cases, DIE is a self-limiting side effect which can be resolved by removing the causative agent and providing supportive therapy.

Keywords: Adverse drug reaction; Esophagitis; Esophagus; Medication; Supplement.