Abstract
Drug-induced injury of the oesophagus is a common cause of oesophageal complaints. ‘Pill-induced’oesophagitis is associated with the ingestion of certain drugs and accounts for many cases of erosive oesophagitis. To date, more than 70 drugs have been reported to induce oesophageal disorders. Antibacterials such as doxycycline, tetracycline and clindamycin are the offending agents in more than 50% of cases. Other commonly prescribed drugs that cause oesophageal injury include aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid), potassium chloride, ferrous sulfate, quinidine, alprenolol and various steroidal and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents. However, many physicians and even more patients are not aware of this problem.
Capsules or tablets are commonly delayed in their passage through the oesophagus. Highly caustic coatings, direct medication injury and poor oesophageal clearance of pills can lead to acute inflammation. Oesophageal damage occurs when the caustic contents of a drug remain in the oesophagus long enough to produce mucosal lesions. Taking medications at bedtime or without fluids is a common cause of oesophagitis.
The possibility of drug-related damage should be suspected in all cases of oesophagitis, chest pain and dysphagia. History and gastrointestinal endoscopy will confirm the diagnosis. Treatment is supportive, although acid reduction is used frequently as an adjunct. This review reflects the current state of knowledge in this field.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Boyce HW. Drug-induced esophageal damage: diseases ofmedical progress. Gastrointest Endosc 1998; 47: 547–50
Boyce HW. Drug-induced esophageal and gastric damage. In: Tytgat GNJ, van Blankenstein M, editors. Current topics in gastroenterology and hepatology. New York: Georg Thieme Verlag, 1996: 170–95
Kikendall JW. Pill-induced esophageal injury. Gastroenterol Clin North Am 1991; 20: 835–46
Kikendall JW, Friedman AC, Oyewole MA. Pill-induced esophageal injury: case reports and review of the medical literature. Dig Dis Sci 1983; 28: 174–82
Jaspersen D. Extragastric side effects of NSAIDs. Dtsch Med Wschr 1998; 132: 669–73
Bott S, Prakash C,McCallumRW.Medication-induced esophageal injury: survey of the literature. AmJ Gastroenterol 1987; 758–63
Goldberg NE, Ott MJ, Parker-Hartigan L. Medication-induced oesophagitis. J Pediatr Health Care 1996; 10: 35–6
Collins FJ,Matthews HR, Baker SE. Drug induced oesophagealinjury. BMJ 1979; 1: 1673–6
Perry PA, Dean BS, Krenelok EP. Drug induced esophageal injury. Clin Toxicol 1989; 27: 281–6
Kalar JG, Redwine JN, Persaud MV. Iatrogenic oesophagitis. Iowa Med 1988; 78: 323–6
Puhakha HJ. Drug-induced corrosive injury of the oesophagus. J Laryngol Otol 1978; 92: 927–31
Hunert H, Ottenjann R. Drug-induced oesophageal ulcers [letter]. Gastrointest Endosc 1979; 25: 41
Teplick JG, Teplick SK, Ominsky SH, Haskin ME. Oesophagitis caused by oral medication. Radiology 1980; 134: 23–5
Agha FP, Wilson JAP, Nostrand TT. Medication-induced oesophagitis. Gastrointest Radiol 1986; 11: 7–11
Levine MS. Drug-induced, caustic and radiation oesophagitis. In: Levine MA, editor. Radiology of the oesophagus. Philadelphia: WB Saunders, 1989: 73–89
Levine MS. Other oesophagitides. In: Fore RM, Levine MS, Laufer I, editors. Textbook of gastrointestinal radiology. Philadelphia: WB Saunders, 1994: 403–30
Pemberton J. Oesophageal obstruction and ulceration caused by oral potassium therapy. Br Heart J 1970; 32: 267–8
Goyal RK. Diseases of oesophagus. In: Isselbacher KL, Braunwald E, editors. Harrison’s principles of internal medicine. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1994: 1355
Richter JE.Motility disorders of the oesophagus. In: Yamada T. Textbook of gastroenterology. Philadelphia: Lippincott, 1991: 1083
Lobis IF, Fisher R. Anticholinergics therapy for achalasia: a controlled trial [abstract]. Gastroenterology 1976; 70: 976
Gelfand M, Rozen P, Keren S, et al. Effect of nitrates on LOS pressure in achalasia: a potential therapeutic aid. Gut 1981; 22 (4): 312–8
Gelfand M, Rozen P, Gilat T. Isosorbide dinitrate and nifedipine treatment of achalasia: a clinical, manometric and radionuclide evaluation. Gastroenterology 1982; 83: 963–8
Carlborg B, Densert O. Medikamentella esofagusstrikturer. Lakartidningen 1978; 75: 4609–11
Wright V. The oesophagus. In: Walker P, Durie JR, Hamilton JA, et al, editors. Pediatric gastrointestinal disease: pathophysiology, diagnosis and management, vol. I. Philadelphia: BC Decker Inc., 1991: 375–6
Ecker GA, Karsch J. Naproxen induced ulcerative esophagitis. J Rheumatol 1992; 19: 646–7
Marvola M, Rajaniemi M, Marttila E. Effect of dosage form and formulation factors on the adherence of drugs to the oesophagus. J Pharm Sci 1983; 72: 1034–6
Channer KS, Virjee JP. The effect of size and shape of tablets on their oesophageal transit. J Clin Pharmacol 1986; 26: 141–6
Hey H, Jorgensen F, Sorensen K, et al. Oesophageal transit of six commonly used tablets and capsules. BMJ 1982; 285: 1717–9
Carlborg B, Densert O. Esophageal lesions caused by orally administered drugs. Eur Surg Res 1980; 12: 270–82
Cohen S, Fisher R, Lipshutz W, et al. The pathogenesis of oesophageal dysfunction in scleroderma andRaynaud’s disease. J Clin Invest 1972; 51 (10): 2663–8
Zamost BJ, Hirschberg J, Ippoliti AF. Oesophagitis in scleroderma: prevalence and risk factors. Gastroenterology 1987; 92 (2): 421–8
Katzka DA, Reynolds JC, Saul SH. Barrett’s metaplasia and adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus in scleroderma.AmJMed 1987; 82 (1): 46–52
Mason SJ, O’Meara TF. Drug-induced esophagitis. J Clin Gastroenterol 1981; 3: 115–20
Carlborg B, Densert O, Lindqvist C. Tetracycline induced esophageal ulcers: a clinical and experimental study. Laryngoscope 1983; 93: 184–7
O’Meara TF. Anew endoscopic finding of tetracycline-induced oesophageal ulcers. Gastrointest Endosc 1980; 26: 106–7
Burke EL. Acute oesophageal damage from one brand of tetracycline tablets [letter]. Gastroenterology 1975; 68: 1022
Stillman AE, Martin RJ. Tetracycline-induced oesophageal ulcerations [letter]. Arch Dermatol 1979; 115 (8): 1005
Aarons B, Bruns BJ. Oesophageal ulceration associated with ingestion of doxycycline [letter]. N Z Med J 1980; 91 (651): 27
Beel RJ. Tetracycline induced esophagitis. Al Med 1986; 50: 47–50
Crowson TD, Head LD, Ferrante WA. Oesophageal ulcers associated with tetracycline therapy. JAMA 1976; 235: 2747–8
Schneider R. Doxycycline oesophageal ulcers. Dig Dis 1977; 22: 805 - 7
Channer KS, Hollanders D. Tetracycline induced oesophageal ulceration. BMJ 1981; 282: 1359–60
Delpre GK. Oesophageal ulceration due to enterocoated doxycycline therapy [letter]. Gastrointest Endosc 1981; 27: 109
Fraser GM, Odes HS, Krugliak P. Severe localised oesophagitis due to doxycycline. Endoscopy 1987; 19: 86
Evans KT, Toberts GM. Where do all the tablets go? Lancet 1976; II: 1237–9
Applegate GR,Malmud LS, Rock E. It’s a hard pill to swallow: or don’t take it lying down [letter]. Gastroenterology 1980; 78: 1132
Sutton DR, Gosnold JK. Oesophageal ulceration due to clindamycin [letter]. BMJ 1977; 1: 1598
Gould PC, Bartolomeo RS, Sklarek HM. Oesophageal ulceration associated with oral penicillin in Marfan’s syndrome. NY State J Med 1985; 85: 199–200
Mortimer O, Wiholm BE. Oesophageal injury associated with pivmecillinam tablets. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 1989; 37: 605–7
Taha A, Nakshabendi L, Sturrock RD. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and the oesophagus–endoscopic and histologic studies. J Clin Pathol 1994; 47: 705–8
Talley NJ, Evans JM, Fleming KC, et al. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and dyspepsia in the elderly. Dig Dis Sci 1995; 40: 1345–50
El-Serag HB, Sonnenberg A. Association of esophagitis and esophageal strictures with disease treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Am J Gastroenterol 1997; 92: 52–6
Levine MS, Borislow SM, Rubesin SE, et al. Esophageal stricture caused by a motrin tablet (ibuprofen). Abdom Imaging 1994; 19: 6–7
McCord GS, Clouse RE. Pill-induced oesophageal stricture: clinical features and risk factors for development. Am J Med 1990; 88: 512–8
Schreiber JB, Covington JA. Aspirin-induced oesophageal hemorrhage. JAMA 1988; 259: 1647–8
Bonavina L, DeMeester TR,McChesney L. Drug-induced esophageal strictures. Ann Surg 1987; 206: 173–83
Kikendall JW, Schmidt M, Graeber GM. Pill-induced esophageal ulceration and stricture following cardiac surgery. Milit Med 1986; 151: 539–42
Heller SR, Fellows IW, Ogilvie AL, et al. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and benign oesophageal stricture. BMJ (Clin Res Ed) 1982; 285: 167–8
Wilkins WE, Ridley MG, Pozniak AL. Benign strictures of the oesophagus: role of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Gut 1984; 25: 478–80
Lanas A, Hirschowitz BI. Significance of aspirin use in patients with esophagitis. J Clin Gastroenterol 1991; 13: 622–7
Lédinghen V, Mannant PR, Foucher J. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and variceal bleeding: a case-control study. J Hepatol 1996; 24: 570–3
Wilcox CM, Shalek KA, Cotsonis G. Striking prevalence of over-the-counter-nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use in patients with upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Arch Intern Med 1994; 154: 42–6
Semble EL, Wu WC, Castell DO. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and esophageal injury. Semin Arthritis Rheum 1989; 19: 99–109
Sun DCH, Roth SH, Mitchell CS, et al. Upper gastrointestinal disease in rheumatoid arthritis. AmJ Dig Dis 1974; 19 405–10
Shallcross TM,Wyatt JI, Rathhone BJ, et al. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, hiatus hernia, and Helicobacter pylori, in patients with oesphageal ulceration. Br J Rheumatol 1990; 29: 288–90
De Groen PC, Lubbe DF, Laurence CB. Esophagitis associated with the use of alendronate. N Engl J Med 1996; 335: 1016–21
Graham DY, Malaty HM, Goodgame R. Primary aminobiphosphonates: a new class of gastrotoxic drugs–comparison of alendronate and aspirin. Am J Gastroenterol 1997; 92: 1322–5
Colina RE, Smith M, Kikendall JW, et al. A new probable increasing cause of esophageal uleration: alendronate. Am J Gastroenterol 1997; 92: 704–6
Lanza Fl, Carlson MR. The effects of amino versus alkylbiphosphonates on the healing of aspirin-induced stomach erosions in healthy subjects [abstract]. Am J Gastroenterol 1996; 91: 1916
Francis RM. Oral bisphosphonates in the treatment of osteoporosis: a review. Curr Ther Res 1995; 56: 831–51
BlankMA, Ems BL, Gibson GW. Nonclinicalmodel for assessing gastric effects of bisphosphonates. Dig Dis Sci 1997; 42: 281–8
Adami S,MianM, Gatti P. Effects of two oral doses of alendronate in the treatment of Paget’s disease of bone. Bone 1994: 15: 415–7
Liberman, UA, Hirsch LJ. Esophagitis and alendronate. N Engl J Med 1996; 335: 1069–70
Maconi G, Porro GB. Multiple ulcerative oesophagitis caused by alendronate. Am J Gastroenterol 1995; 90: 1889–90
Abdelmalek MF, Douglas DD. Alendronate-induced ulcerative oesophagitis [letter]. Am J Gastroenterol 1996; 91: 1282–3
Rosenthal T, Adar R,Mililthianu J. Oesophageal ulceration and oral potassium chloride ingestion. Chest 1974; 65: 463–5
Henry JG, Shinner JJ, Martino JH. Fatal oesophageal and bronchial artery ulceration caused by solid potassium chloride. Pediatr Cardiol 1983; 4: 251–2
Lowry N, Delaney P, O’Malley E. Oesophageal ulceration due to slow-release potassiumin the presence of left atrial enlargement. Ir J Med Sci 1975; 144: 366
Lubbe WF, Cadogan ES, Kannemeyer AHR. Oesophageal ulceration due to slow-release potassium in the presence of left atrial enlargement. N Z Med J 1979: 90: 377–9
Bohane TD, Perrault J, Fowler RS. Oesophagitis and oesophageal obstruction from quinidine tablets in association with left atrial enlargement. Aust Paediatr J 1978; 14: 191–2
Creteur V, Laufer I, Kressel HY, et al. Drug-induced oesophagitis detected by double-contrast radiography. Radiology 1983; 147: 365–8
Tobias R, Cullis S, Kottler RE. Emepronium bromide-induced oesophagitis. S Afr Med J 1982; 61: 368–70
Hillman LC, Scobie BA, Pomare EW. Acute oesophagitis due to emepronium bromide. N Z Med J 1981; 94: 4–6
Kavin H. Oesophageal ulceration due to emepronium bromide. Lancet 1977; I: 424–5
Stoller JL. Oesophageal ulceration and theophylline [letter]. Lancet 1985: II: 328–9
Enzenauer RW, Bass JW,McDonnell JT. Esophageal ulceration associated with oral theophylline [letter]. N Engl JMed 1984; 310: 261
Stiris MG, Oyen D. Oesophagitis caused by oral ingestion of Aptin (alprenolol chloride) Durettes. Eur J Radiol 1982; 2: 28–40
Olovson SG, Havo N, Regardh CG. Oesophageal ulcerations and plasma levels of different alprenolol salts: potential implications for the clinic. Acta Pharmacol Toxicol 1986; 58: 55–60
AlMahdy H, Boswell GV. Captopril-induced oesophagitis. Eur J Clin Pharmacol. 1988; 3 (1) 4: 95.
Walsh J, Kneafsey DV. Phenobarbitone induced oesophagitis. Ir Med J 1980; 73 (10): 399
Pen J, Van Meerbeeck J, Pelekmans P. Thiazinium-induced oesophageal ulcerations. Acta Clin Belg 1986; 41: 278–83
Walta DC, Giddens JD, Johnson LF. Localized proximal oesophagitis secondary to ascorbic acid ingestion and oesophageal motor disorder. Gastroenterology 1976; 70: 766–9
Abbarah TR, Fredell JE, Ellenz GB. Ulceration by oral ferrous sulfate. JAMA 1976; 236: 2320
Copenhagen Oesophageal Varices Sclerotherapy Project: a randomized multicenter trial. N Engl J Med 1984; 311: 1594–1600
Korula J, Balert LA, Radvan G, et al. Aprospective randomized controlled trial of chronic oesophageal sclerotherapy. Hepatology 1985; 5: 584–9
Sarin SK, Sachdev G, Nanda R, et al. Comparison of the two time schedules for endoscopic sclerotherapy: a prospective randomized controlled study. Gut 1986; 27: 710–3
Levine MS. Drug-induced disorders of the esophagus. Abdom Imaging 1999; 24: 3 –8
Levine MS, Laufer I, Kressel HY, et al. Herpes oesophagitis. AJR 1981; 136: 863–6
Shortsleeve MJ, Levine MS. Herpes oesophagitis in otherwise healthy patients: clinical and radiographic findings. Radiology 1992; 182: 859–61
LevineMS,Macones AJ, Laufer I. Candida oesophagitis–accuracy of radiographic diagnosis. Radiology 1985; 154: 581–7
Gobel V, Long BW, Richter G. Aphthous ulcers in the oesophagus with Crohn colitis. AJR 1981; 137: 872–3
Levine MS, Loercher G, Katzka DA, et al. Giant human immunodeficiency virus-related ulcers in the oesophagus. Radioloy 1991; 180: 323–6
Sur S, Levine MS, Kowalski TE, et al. Giant ulcers of the oesophagus in patients with human immunodeficiency virus: clinical, radiographic, and pathologic findings. Radiology 1995; 194: 447–51
Weerda H, Brand ET. Stevens-Johnson syndrome with oesophagitis. HNO 1974; 22: 246–8
Pinos T, Figueras C,Mar R. Doxicycline-induced oesophagitis: treatment with liquid sucralphate. Am J Gastroenterol 1990; 85: 902–3
Pleet D, Malmud LS, Maurer A. Sucralphate binding to inflamed oesophageal mucosa. Gastroenterology 1985; 88: 1540–1
Acknowledgements
This paper is dedicated to Professor Dr Rudolf Arnold, Department of Gastroenterology, University Hospital Marburg, Germany.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Jaspersen, D. Drug-Induced Oesophageal Disorders. Drug-Safety 22, 237–249 (2000). https://doi.org/10.2165/00002018-200022030-00007
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2165/00002018-200022030-00007