Acid Reflux Medications: What Are They?

There are so many types of acid reflux medications that you can consume. It is always a good idea to know what they are and how they work. In many situations, lifestyle changes, coupled with acid reflux medications, are effective enough to help you deal with the painful symptoms.

If you find yourself having heartburn or acid reflux symptoms, consult a doctor if these symptoms do not go away after 3-4 days. Upon examination, your family doctor may refer you to a gastroenterologist. This more specialised doctor will be able to help with acid reflux medications and diet advice so that the condition can be effectively controlled.

The most common type of acid reflux medications are the antacids i.e. Alka-Seltzer, Pepto-Bismol etc. As the name suggests these work by reducing the acidity of the stomach contents. Often these types of medication contain one or a combination of the salts of magnesium, calcium and aluminium and some form of bicarbonate. The salts act to neutralize the acid and stop the painful acid reflux. Unfortunately the effects are relatively short lived and so antacids are best used for infrequent bouts of acid reflux.

Gaviscon works in a different way. This foams up in the stomach and prevents the harmful acid from attacking the stomach walls and travelling up the oesophagus. Both antacids and foaming remedies can be bought over the counter.

There are two main types of acid reflux medications however that are not available without consulting a doctor first. Proton pump inhibitors such as Prilosec, Protonix and Nexium slow down the rate at which acid is secreted in the stomach by shutting down the pumping mechanism in the walls of the stomach cell walls. This type of acid reflux medication is used to treat even the most severe cases with very good results.

H2 blockers such as Zantac, also slow down the production of acid from by the stomach however the effect is not as strong as that of proton pump inhibitors and so H2 blockers are used to treat slightly milder cases.

Before giving you a prescription for acid reflux medications, the gastroenterologist will suggest a number a ways in which the condition can be controlled naturally. You should always make lifestyle changes first rather than becomming reliant on your acid reflux medications.

For example he may suggest that you eat smaller meals and on a regular basis to help eatin reduce the amount of acid produced by the stomach. In addition, he may also suggest that you monitor your diet so that foods which stimulate the secretion of acid in the stomach are kept to a minimum. The doctor may also suggest you lose weight if you are above the recommended target for your age and size.

Quitting smoking and alcoholic beverages are additional recommended measures. Both nicotine and alcohol stimulate the stomach to produce the harmful acid that causes the painful symptoms associated with acid reflux.

Where lifestyle measures do not help sufficiently, then should you consider using acid reflux medications as prescribed by your doctor. If your acid reflux medications are found to be ineffective, will surgery be suggested.

For more information, please read here on Acid Reflux Diet.