Choosing Medications for Acid Reflux Disease
Choosing the right medications for acid reflux disease can be difficult for a few reasons. First of all, there are so many different options available today that it’s hard to determine which ones actually do work and which do not. Second, not everybody responds to medication the same way so something that works great for one person may not necessarily be the best for you. Finally, many people do not really understand what the medications for acid reflux disease can do, and they will just take anything that is recommended to them. In order to make sure that you do get the best treatment for your particular condition, a good first step to take is to understand the different remedies that are available to you and be able to discern which of them will be most beneficial for your case.
Antacids
The most common over the counter medications for acid reflux disease are antacids, which are very good for settling the stomach especially after eating too much. Popular antacids today include Tums, Maalox and Rolaids. To their credit, these antacids do work very well in providing instant relief from stomach pain but that’s all they are mostly. They are not long-term solutions to acid reflux and they certainly won’t stop further occurrences of the condition. Furthermore, they can also cause constipation or diarrhea when used too frequently.
H-2 Receptor Blockers
For moderate cases of acid reflux that won’t go away with simple antacids, H-2 receptor blockers are usually the recommended solutions. They work by regulating the production of stomach acids, effectively preventing the overflowing of acids back into the esophagus. These medications for acid reflux disease take a little longer than antacids to show results, but the relief that you can get from them does last considerably longer. Popular brands of H-2 receptor blockers available in pharmacies are Zantac, Pepcid and Tagamet.
Proton Pump Inhibitors
These medications for acid reflux disease are available both over the counter and by prescription, depending on the particular brand and dosage. One of the OTC proton pump inhibitors commonly used today is Prilosec, which is a combination of an antacid and an acid-blocking medication. Proton pump inhibitors are very good for people who have already sustained some amount of damage on their esophageal tube due to the overexposure to stomach acids.
Although many of these medications for acid reflux disease can readily be purchased in any drugstore in the country without a doctor’s prescription, it is advised that you seek the advice of your physician first before taking any kind of drug.
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