Acid Reflux Medicine - What You Should Know About Choosing This Type of Medication
Most of the acid reflux medicine that works best are easy over-the-counter medications. Even if you do not suffer from gastroesophageal reflux disease, you could have used one of them in the past: Anti-reflux drugs. Pepto-Bismol, Pepcid, and Motrin. Aspirin, Tums, and Zantac are also acid reflux medicine that can be purchased without a prescription.
If you suffer from heartburn or acid reflux disease, your doctor will most likely prescribe medicine for these symptoms. It is best to take these medications as soon as you start experiencing the symptoms so that they can provide the fastest relief. However, taking acid reflux medication for a prolonged period of time could have some serious side effects on your health. Here are the common side effects of these medications.
The most common acid reflux medicine contains the chemical amitriptyline. This drug acts as an anti-spasmodic by slowing down the stomach's production of gastric acid. Many doctors prefer this type of medication, because it is less likely to produce side effects like nausea and vomiting. However, even though it is less likely to produce side effects, doctors still caution that using amitriptyline for a long period of time could cause severe health problems.
Another common type of acid reflux medicine contains the antacids Reglan and Pepcid. These medications are also used to treat acid reflux. They provide temporary relief from symptoms, but the stomach is not able to make as much acid, or release it at all. These treatment options should only be used for short periods of time, or as needed.
If you are taking one of the more severe types of acid reflux medicine, you will probably have to go into surgery. Surgery is usually only done if the symptoms become too severe. Your doctor may recommend doing a laparoscopy, where a tiny camera is used to see inside the stomach. This is the best way to determine what types of lifestyle changes will need to be made in order to prevent a recurrence of your symptoms.
Some of the more common medications used to treat acid reflux include Pepcid, Reglan, and Aventyl. The two antacids mentioned above stimulate the production of digestive acids in your stomach, which in turn reduces the amount of acid that is able to travel up your esophagus. Other types of antacids can also cause constipation. Some of these include prilosec OTC, omeprazole, and omeprazole nitrate.
In order to keep acid reflux from reoccurring, a change in your diet can help to relieve your discomfort and allow your digestive system to function properly. Some foods that can make the symptoms worse include fatty foods, coffee, and citrus juices. You should also avoid spicy foods, citrus juices, and citrus fruits. Certain spices and fried foods can also cause your discomfort to become worse, so if you are susceptible to these foods, try to eliminate them from your diet for a few days and see if your symptoms improve.
Because GERD is usually caused by a compromise of both the stomach and the esophagus, it can often lead to complications such as sleep apnea and heart failure. If you suffer from any of these symptoms, speak to your doctor about the acid reflux medicine that you are currently taking and about any potential side effects that may occur. Keeping a record of your symptoms and the foods that cause them can help your doctor to better diagnose your condition and provide the best treatment possible. Also, keep in mind that just because your symptoms don't improve doesn't mean that they can't.