Functional Dyspepsia

Functional dyspepsia is the medical term for upper digestive symptoms that last for at least one month and cannot be explained by another disease.

The main symptom is upper abdominal pain or discomfort. Other common symptoms may include:

Nausea
A sense of fullness after eating
Early satiety (feeling full quickly)
Heartburn or burning in the upper abdomen

Diagnosis

Before making this diagnosis, your doctor will usually perform tests to rule out other causes such as:

Stomach cancer (rare, but important to exclude)
Peptic ulcer disease
Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection
Celiac disease

Treatment Options

Medications

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs): Lower stomach acid and may relieve pain and burning.
Other medicines: If acid-lowering drugs do not help, your doctor may suggest medicines that work on the nervous system, such as low-dose tricyclic antidepressants such amitriptyline, which can calm overactive pain signals in the stomach.

Psychotherapy

Functional dyspepsia is linked to a sensitive or “dysregulated” gut–brain connection.
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) or other forms of talk therapy can help calm the nervous system, reduce stress, and improve coping with symptoms.

When to Seek Help Urgently

You should contact a healthcare professional promptly if you notice:

Unexplained weight loss
Anemia (low blood count)
Difficulty swallowing
Persistent vomiting

These may signal another condition that requires urgent evaluation.

Living with Functional Dyspepsia

Functional dyspepsia is not life-threatening, but it can significantly affect quality of life.
There is no single “cure,” but symptoms can often be managed with a personalized plan that may include diet changes, medication, and stress management strategies.
Many patients improve with a combination of approaches over time.

Reference: Moayyedi P, Lacy BE, Andrews CN, Enns RA, Howden CW, Vakil N. ACG and CAG Clinical Guideline: Management of Dyspepsia. Am J Gastroenterol. 2017;112(7):988-1013. doi:10.1038/ajg.2017.154