Archive for May, 2010
A Discussion of Three Various kinds of Heartburn Medications
When you experience your first experience of heartburn, you might think you’re having a heart attack. Regardless of how painful the sensations happen to be, however, they’ve got nothing to do with your heart and everything to do with your stomach. When stomach acid accumulates it is forced back up your esophagus, it produces heartburn. Therefore, the important thing to avoiding heartburn is to keep stomach acid low and flowing how it is supposed to flow. This isn’t always possible, though, and you will want some type of heartburn medication which will relieve the symptoms and help your whole body get back on the right track.
There are numerous various kinds of medications that are used for heartburn, and perhaps they are all effective in their own way. You may be most familiar with antacids, such as Tums, that work to neutralize stomach acid and eradicate the pain. In the event you keep a bottle of antacids at home and carry some within your purse or pocket, you can be good to go whenever an attack might hit you. Antacids usually work quickly, and taking them as per the instructions on the bottle will almost certainly eliminate the issue immediately. However, you’ll need to keep in mind that not every medication is going to work precisely the same for everyone who takes it.
If antacids alone aren’t going to cut it in your case, you might want to use a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) which will lower the production of stomach acid thereby lessening your odds of getting heartburn. If you’ve heard the TV commercials advertising Prevacid, you will know this is a PPI that’s prescribed for patients suffering with acid reflux, that’s a severe form of heartburn. It’s not a suitable medication for everybody who suffers from occasional bouts of heartburn, though, so consult with your medical professional to see if he feels you will benefit from taking it. It can result in diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, and nausea in some cases.
Another type of heartburn medication contains H-2 blockers, such as Zantac, that can be purchased over-the-counter. These medicines are much less potent than their prescription counterparts, however they may take care of your problem, because they do effectively block acid production.
When you suffer from heartburn, even infrequently, there’s no doubt you’ll want to find some type of heartburn remedies which will relieve the symptoms and even keep them from coming to start with. Consult a medical doctor about your options, and let him recommend the best plan to suit your needs.