Heartburn is word that many people dread hearing about, and is a condition that can vary in its strength and symptoms. To make sure that your heartburn does not change into GERD, which is the more serious version of heartburn, you will need to consider what medications will help. There are over the counter heartburn drugs that you can take, with these ranging from mild to the extra strength variety. Should you desire you also have a choice of tablet form or liquid medication.
Then you can always ask your doctor’s advice about heartburn drugs that are available only from a prescription. Also what is the most suitable course of treatment that will fit your lifestyle.
The most common type of heartburn drug is usually antacids. Antacids should be taken orally and be used more often than we do at the moment as, and when they are needed. Many people would like to use liquid antacids rather than the tablet variety as they are easier to take and can be more gentle on the body. You need to be aware that antacids should be chewed well and be swallowed at least 30 to 60 minutes after you eat. Antacids are recommended because they have the chemical ingredients that are needed to neutralize the high levels of acid buildup in the stomach that can lead to stomach acids refluxing into the esophagus and causing heartburn.
These are over the counter antacids like Tagamet, Pepcid AC, Zantac and even Prilosec. The strongest types of heartburn drugs that you can buy over the counter are Maalox II, Mylanta II, Gelusil II and Extra Strength Riopan.
There are also two Alginic Acid and Antacids tablets that place a layer of foam over the stomach acidic juices to prevent reflux. These tablets must be chewed well and taken at least 30 to 60 minutes after you eat and before you go to sleep at night. There are chemicals in Gaviscon and Algicon that floats on the top of the digested stomach contents, so that when the stomach acids reflux into the esophagus it is the first substance to come into contact with the esophagus. These are excellent heartburn drugs that reduce the acid levels in the stomach.
Then there is a group of heartburn drugs that control and treat the symptoms of heartburn. These are acid reducers or acid blockers. These acid reducers are part of a class of drugs that are called Histamine receptor blockers. You can get them as over the counter or in prescription strengths forms. They work by reducing the amount of acid that you have in the stomach. When the use of these acid reducers can no longer control or treat your heartburn then Proton Pump Inhibitors or PPI’s might do the trick.
Whatever the type of heartburn drug that you use, the main point to remember is that it should be sufficient to provide you relief from your heartburn.