Common Prescription Heartburn Medication Options
Many health experts agree that prescription heartburn medication is still the best way to treat and prevent this digestive disorder, despite the controversies regarding side effects and high costs. There are dozens of prescription medications for heartburn relief that people can use these days, and this article will discuss the advantages associated with the most popular ones.
Medications for the Treatment and Prevention of Heartburn
When it comes to prescription heartburn medications, Zantac is undeniably one of the most familiar brands. It falls into the category of histamine-2 blockers, which are drugs that can lower the acid production in the stomach, reducing the risk of heartburn. Zantac is excellent not only for providing almost instant relief to heartburn pain, but also for preventing further occurrences of the disorder.
Zantac is most frequently prescribed to individuals who have stomach ulcers and various digestive disorders in the gastrointestinal tract.
Another highly popular prescription heartburn medication is Tagamet. Like Zantac, it is also very effective both as a curative and preventive medication against heartburn and its many symptoms. It is a histamine H2-antagonist drug that can help heal stomach ulcers while minimizing the burning sensation that is typical of most heartburn cases.
When combined with other drugs, Tagamet can cause a rise in one’s blood pressure, along with other health complications. It is therefore very important to let your doctor know whether you are using any other medications or if you are suffering from other health conditions before asking them for a prescription heartburn medication.
Prescription Heartburn Medications During Pregnancy and For Breastfeeding Women
The use of prescription heartburn medication is generally not recommended as these drugs may not be the best to use as they contain substances that may cause harm to you and your unborn child. There are other medications that are safe for you to use, but make sure you discuss the options thoroughly with your doctor before starting on any treatment.
Of course, if you want to avoid all risks of side effects altogether, you can always use natural remedies to help you deal with heartburn symptoms during pregnancy. For example, there are natural supplements, such as Digesto-K Sprinkles for heartburn during pregnancy.
Quite interestingly, the risk of suffering from heartburn and its painful symptoms is much higher when a woman is pregnant due to the increased pressure that the growing baby is putting on the stomach. In this case, all you can do is avoid eating very large meals and try to wear loose clothing as much as possible.
Heartburn Medicine – Popular Heartburn Medications
When You Need Immediate Heartburn Relief
Some people use herbal treatments and others prefer homeopathic remedies but conventional heartburn medicine remains to be one of the most popular choices for immediate heartburn relief.
There are dozens of different heartburn medications that you can choose from, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. To figure out which will work best for you, it would be wise to learn a thing or two about each of your options.
Heartburn Antacids
By far the most popular heartburn medicine, antacids are usually available over-the-counter, which means that you can buy them even without getting a prescription from your doctor. They work by stabilizing the excess acids in the stomach, preventing them from rising into the esophagus.
There are two ways of using antacids as a heartburn medicine. The first is to provide instant relief from painful heartburn symptoms, which will happen if you take the pill as soon as the pain begins. Another way is to use it as a preventive medication. If you already know that you are prone to heartburn attacks, you can take an antacid immediately after eating in order to stop the heartburn attack before it happens.
Antacids do give almost instant relief from heartburn but this is only a temporary solution. Oftentimes, the pain will recur after an hour after taking the medication. Furthermore, the habitual use of antacids as a heartburn medicine can result in negative side effects in the long run, and it may even cause serious health complications for some individuals.
If you don’t have antacids on hand and you really need to get relief from painful heartburn symptoms, you can try making your own heartburn medicine by mixing baking soda with water. This home remedy is an excellent solution to heartburn problems but should not be taken on a regular basis because it can increase blood pressure.
Natural Remedies
There are also many natural heartburn relief remedies, you will find on this website. Many of them help ease the digestive problems as well as provide the relief. After all you are better off treating the underlying health problem than just the ‘top’ few symptoms.
Alginates
This is another effective heartburn medicine that works like an antacid but with longer-lasting effects. You might need to have a doctor’s prescription before being able to purchase this medication.
H2 Blockers
Also called H2-receptor antagonists, H2 blockers work by regulating the production of acid in the stomach. They are systemic remedies that have very high success rates but may take a little longer to deliver results than alginates or even baking soda. Familiar names of H2 blockers include Zantac, Pepcid and Tagamet. These heartburn medicines are available in very low doses and may be purchased without a doctor’s prescription.
Proton Pump Inhibitors
Another popular type of heartburn medicine, proton pump inhibitors or PPIs work by modifying the proteins in the stomach, reducing the risk of acid overproduction. They are considered to be one of the best long-term treatments for heartburn today.
