Objective To assess the use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) to treat persistent throat
symptoms. Design Pragmatic, double blind, placebo controlled, randomised trial. Setting
Eight ear, nose, and throat outpatient clinics, United Kingdom. Participants 346 patients
aged 18 years or older with persistent throat symptoms who were randomised according to
recruiting centre and baseline severity of symptoms (mild or severe): 172 to lansoprazole
and 174 to placebo. Intervention Random blinded allocation (1: 1) to either 30 mg …

This randomised, placebo-controlled trial examined the use of the PPI lansoprazole for 16
weeks in 346 patients with persistent throat symptoms. There was no significant difference
between the lansoprazole and placebo arms for improvement in mean Reflux Symptom
Index score at the end of treatment (17.4 vs. 15.6) or for any secondary outcome measure,
including Reflux Symptom Index score at 12 months (16.0 vs. 13.6).