MedCline

MedCline: therapeutic pillows for acid reflux and shoulder pain

MedCline is a company specializing in therapeutic pillow systems designed to improve rest for people with chronic shoulder pain, nighttime acid reflux (GERD), heartburn, coughing, and associated discomfort. Its products are presented as medical devices backed by clinical trials and are patented.

Origin and clinical approach

The company was founded by Dr. Carl Melcher, a professor of medicine at UCSD, after he was diagnosed with Barrett's esophagus, a condition that can precede esophageal cancer. Faced with a lack of satisfactory treatments, he developed the MedCline Reflux Relief System as a study-based solution. The company states that its reflux and pain relief systems are aimed at providing more restful sleep and a better quality of life.

Products and systems

The catalog is organized around three main systems and a line of pillows and accessories:

• Shoulder Relief System: designed for chronic shoulder pain at night, it allows comfortable side sleeping. Available in several sizes.
• Reflux Relief System: clinically proven treatment for heartburn, coughing, and symptoms of nighttime gastroesophageal reflux (GERD), including silent and gestational reflux.
• Therapeutic Body Pillow: patented body pillow, available in a regular comfort version and with cooling technology.
• Multi-Position Neck Pillow: ergonomic neck pillow with zoned areas to support multiple sleep positions, reduce pressure, and improve alignment.
• Pregnancy Body Pillow: full-body pregnancy pillow designed to support hips, back, and belly at every stage.
• Specialty Pillows: line of specialized pillows.
• Pillow cases, storage bag, and gift cards.

The prices shown in the catalog at the time of review are: Shoulder Relief System and Reflux Relief System at $249.99; Therapeutic Body Pillow at $119.00; Multi-Position Neck Pillow at $89.99; Pregnancy Body Pillow at $129.00; Cooling Body Pillow at $139.00; pillow cases from $35; and storage bag at $49.99. The store indicated a 20% off sitewide promotion.

Scientific backing and coverage

The company maintains that its medical devices are backed by clinical trials. The relief systems are eligible for flexible spending accounts (FSA) and health savings accounts (HSA), and can be purchased with the plan's debit card. Regarding private insurance, MedCline notes that its products are not covered by private plans; the only coverage available is through the U.S. Veterans Administration (VA). As a designated small business, it offers its TAA-approved sleep systems to veterans through their VA benefits.

Customer service and resources

MedCline provides users with sleep specialists for individualized consultations by email, chat, and phone, as well as the option to schedule a call. The company states that system setup takes less than 3 minutes. It also offers a product guide, a sleep blog, a product comparison tool, and a quiz to help choose the right pillow. The company reports more than 400,000 satisfied customers and an average rating of 4.4 out of 5 based on 5,207 verified buyers.

Location and contact

Phone: 800-610-1607 · Email: support@medcline.com · Hours: Mon-Fri 8am to 4pm