Here’s an article from the Wall Street Journal that explains why many people who have heartburn don’t respond to acid reflux medications. In addition to what’s explained in the article (non-erosive reflux disease, or NERD), another explanation is that acid reflux medications don’t do anything to treat reflux. What they are designed to do is to lower acid production in the stomach. However, they don’t do anything to prevent reflux of normal stomach contents into the esophagus or throat. This is a common condition in obstructive sleep apnea, where acid, bile, stomach enzymes, and even bacteria can irritate the throat, lungs, and nose.