Table 2.
Evaluation of therapeutic options for refractory chronic cough due to gastroesophageal reflux
| Therapeutic options | Evaluations |
| Pharmacologically | |
| Optimization of PPIs therapy | |
| Switch to another PPI | Useful for some refractory cough due to acid reflux |
| Doubling the current dose of PPI | Useful for refractory cough due to severe acid reflux |
| Add-on therapy | |
| Histamine H2 receptor antagonists | Useful for refractory cough due to severe acid reflux and night-time reflux |
| TLESRs inhibitors (baclofen) | Useful for refractory cough due to acid or non-acid reflux resistant to PPI therapy |
| Gabapentin | Useful for refractory cough due to acid or non-acid reflux resistant to PPI and baclofen therapy |
| Surgically | |
| Laparoscopic fundoplication | A treatment option for long-term therapy of refractory cough due to acid or non-acid reflux |
| Endoscopic therapy or transoral incisionless fundoplication | Not recommended for refractory cough due to reflux on the basis of lack of long-term efficacy |
| Radiofrequency augmentation | Not recommended for refractory cough due to reflux on the basis of lack of long-term efficacy |
PPI: Proton pump inhibitor. TLESRs: transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxations.