What You Should Know About Acid Reflux Medication

OTC Acid Reflux MedicineAcid Reflux SymptomsAcid reflux is a common but sometimes serious condition for which long-term treatment is available.  While there is no known medical cure for acid reflux, there are a variety of acid reflux medications, both over the counter and prescription, which can ease your pain and reduce the stomach acids that flow into your esophagus.

Long-term acid reflux that is left untreated can eat away the lining of your esophagus, leading to an increased risk of esophageal cancer.  If you have heartburn more than twice week for more than two weeks that cannot be relieved through over the counter medication, you should see your doctor to rule out more serious illnesses.

For occasional heartburn, doctors usually suggest treatment with common OTC antacids.  Antacids such as Rolaids and Tums contain calcium bicarbonate, which neutralizes the acid in your stomach.  These pills are safe for daily use, and the added calcium is great as a supplement to your diet.

If antacids cannot soothe your acid reflux symptoms, doctors may suggest heartburn treatments such as Tagamet, Prevacid, or Prilosec.  The active ingredients in these medicines work to prevent the production of stomach acids.  These medications are usually taken orally once per day, for 2 weeks at a time.  It may take up to 24 hours for these drugs to be effective, so they should not be used for relief of immediate heartburn symptoms.  For more severe heartburn, your doctor may suggest prescription strength versions of these or other drugs.

If both over the counter and prescription medications fail to relieve or treat your acid reflux symptoms, you may be a candidate for surgery.  New methods of laproscopic surgery exist today that generally require a short hospital stay and a relatively quick road to recovery.  This, however, should only be considered as a last resort if diet, exercise, and medication do not alleviate your symptoms and the threat of serious esophageal damage is imminent.

Before beginning any medical treatment, be sure to discuss your symptoms and medications with your doctor to make sure acid reflux medication does not interfere with other medical therapies you may be receiving.  Additionally, medicine should not replace proper diet in the treatment of heartburn.