Heartburn Medicine – Popular Heartburn Medications
Some people use herbal treatments and others prefer homeopathic remedies but conventional heartburn medicine remains to be one of the most popular choices when it comes to treating this common digestive problem. 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.
Heartburn Home Remedies
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.
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