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News
Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) can meaningfully improve nighttime heartburn and sleep quality in patients with reflux-driven nocturnal GERD, a new systematic review finds. Across three placebo-controlled trials, 34%–53% of PPI users reported nighttime heartburn relief versus just 10%–20% on placebo. The benefit was most pronounced in patients with frequent nighttime heartburn rather than primary insomnia.
A new systematic review published in the Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology confirms that proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are effective at relieving nighttime heartburn and improving sleep quality in patients with nocturnal GERD. Researchers analyzed five randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving nearly 1,500 patients, finding consistent benefits across multiple sleep-related outcomes.
Three placebo-controlled trials showed that PPIs significantly outperformed placebo for both nocturnal heartburn relief and GERD-related sleep disturbances. Two trials also found that PPI users experienced greater reductions in work productivity loss and daily activity impairment. Importantly, PPIs did not significantly increase adverse events compared to placebo — side effects like headache, diarrhea, and nausea were mild to moderate.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: For the millions of GERD sufferers losing sleep to nighttime reflux, this review reinforces PPIs as a go-to treatment — though they work best for those with clearly reflux-driven symptoms, not general insomnia.
