Compositions comprising a therapeutically effective amount of at least one bile acid sequestrant are disclosed for treating or preventing upper GI tract disorders and protecting stratified squamous epithelium against injury by a noxious substance. Exemplary bile acid sequestrants include colesevelam, colesevelam hydrochloride, colestipol, sevelamer and combinations thereof. The disclosed methods generally include administering to a patient in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one bile acid sequestrant, alone or in combination with at least one proton pump inhibitor.