Dyspepsia is defined as epigastric pain lasting for at least 1 month that can be associated with epigastric fullness, nausea, vomiting, or heartburn. Dyspepsia can be caused by Helicobacter pylori infection, esophagitis, peptic ulcer disease, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and can be worsened by medications, cigarette smoking, and alcohol. Functional dyspepsia is the term used for patients when endoscopy and other diagnostic tests have ruled out organic pathology.

The most common drugs that cause dyspepsia include aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which can contribute to mucosal damage, ulceration, and bleeding complications. Other associated medications include iron, antibiotics, antihypertensives, narcotics, estrogens, theophylline, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), niacin, digoxin, corticosteroids, levodopa, and hypoglycemic agents. These medications can cause symptoms by causing direct gastric mucosal injury (eg, NSAIDs), a change in gastrointestinal sensorimotor function, worsening GERD, or idiopathic mechanisms.

Management of drug-induced dyspepsia includes drug discontinuation, assessment of underlying pathology, and symptom control.