Heartburn is a painful burning feeling that occurs in the chest. It is caused by gastroesophageal reflux, where the contents and acids from the stomach are pushed back into the esophagus. Most people have experienced feelings of heartburn at some point in time, but chronic heartburn is more serious and interferes with a daily lifestyle.

Fortunately, there are many medications on the market that help treat the symptoms of heartburn. Most people have success in taking these medications and most can be purchased over-the-counter and without a doctor‘s prescription.

One of the most common types of heartburn medicine is antacids. Antacids help to neutralize the acids in the stomach and treat the symptoms of heartburn. They can be taken in chewable pills or dissolved in water. They are fast-acting and provide relief in about 15 to 20 minutes. Antacids can be purchased over-the-counter and are relatively safe if taken as directed.

Generally, antacids are made up of three components; magnesium, calcium and aluminum. There are varying degrees of each of these salts depending on the brand you purchase, but it’s these salts that neutralize stomach acids.

Examples of antacids include Maalox, Mylanta, Alka-Seltzer, and Tums. Not only do antacids help to neutralize the acids in the stomach, but they also help to relive gas and ulcer pain. Antacids need to be taken as directed, as taking too much of them can cause diarrhea or constipation.

Another type of heartburn medicine is an acid blocker. Acid blockers suppress and block the acids in the stomach, which in turn relieves symptoms of heartburn and indigestion. There are two types of acid blockers; histamine antagonists (H2 antagonist) and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs).

H2 antagonists can be purchased over-the-counter and include such medications as Pepcid and Zantac. They are generally safe to take and have few side effects. H2 antagonists are also available in prescription strength, so talk to your doctor if the over-the-counter choices are not working.

An advantage to taking an H2 antagonist is that it can be taken prior to a meal. This helps to eliminate the feelings of heartburn and indigestion before it starts, certainly an advantage when eating meals in public places.

An example of a PPI medication that can be purchased over-the-counter is Prilosec. As with H2 antagonists, Prilosec is also made in prescription strength, which can be obtained with a prescription from your doctor.

PPIs also reduce the levels of acid in the stomach and are recommended for heartburn and acid reflux. For this reason, PPIs are also beneficial for healing damage that has already been done to the esophagus. Often times, people who suffer from chronic reflux and heartburn will have damage to the esophageal tissue due to the habitual flow of acids.

Unlike antacids, acid blockers are only recommended for short periods of time. Generally, doctors will recommend that you take acid blockers until the symptoms begin to subside. Once the symptoms are gone, you can split the dosage in half and eventually withdraw the medication completely.

If you want the benefits of both antacids and acid blockers, there is one heartburn medicine on the market that contains both. Pepcid Complete uses acid blockers to block acids found in the stomach. Pepcid Complete also uses the components found in antacids to neutralize the remaining acids in the stomach.

If antacids and acid blockers are not working for you, it is important to talk to your doctor about other choices available. Sometimes there are other types of heartburn medicine that treat symptoms such as pain, discomfort or feeling bloated. There are also certain diets and lifestyle changes that can be implemented into your routine to help deal with the symptoms of heartburn.

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• Tums, is there anything more effective I can take?
• Reflux in Infants
• Are any prescription drugs available that may be helpful?
• What is Gastroesophageal Reflux?
• What is heartburn

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