Worrisome burping

DEAR DR. GOTT: I have dry burping (no acid taste ever) 30 times a day, five or six burps each time. I am on digoxin for a rapid and irregular heart rate. Could my heart condition have anything to do with the excessive dry burping? It happens any time of day, whether my stomach is empty or after I have eaten. I am an 85-year-old female.

DEAR READER: Your heart condition is likely atrial fibrillation, a condition that causes skipped beats and a rapid heart rate. I don’t believe it is the cause of your excessive burping; however, your medication may be.

Digoxin can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and anorexia (loss of appetite). Most individuals associate these symptoms with stomach upset that can also produce excess gas. Burping and belching (known as eructation) is not listed as a side effect; however, it is my belief that if digoxin can cause nausea and other side effects, it can likely cause your problem as well.

Other possibilities include your diet, gastroesophageal reflux disease (which does not have to create heartburn or an acid taste in the mouth), other medications you may be on, or other gastrointestinal disorders.

I suggest you speak with your doctor regarding your concerns. Perhaps a change in medication or dosage, or a referral to a gastroenterologist, is called for.