Discussions of Three Types of Heartburn Medicines
When you have your first experience of heartburn, you may think you’re having a heart attack. Regardless how painful the sensations might be, however, they’ve got nothing to do with your heart and everything to do with your stomach. When stomach acid accumulates and it is forced back up your esophagus, it produces heartburn. Therefore, the main element to avoiding heartburn is always to keep stomach acid low and flowing the way it really is meant to flow. This is not always possible, though, and you’ll need some form of heartburn medication which will relieve the symptoms and help your body get back to normal.
There are many various kinds of medications that are used for heartburn, and maybe they are all effective in their own way. You’re probably most familiar with antacids, such as Tums, that actually work to neutralize stomach acid and eradicate the pain. If you keep a bottle of antacids in your home and carry some in your purse or pocket, you will be all set whenever an attack might hit you. Antacids usually work quickly, and taking them according to the instructions on the bottle will probably get rid of the condition right away. However, you’ll need to keep in mind that not every medication can work the same for every person who takes it.
If antacids alone aren’t doing the trick in your case, you may want to test a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) that will lower the production of stomach acid thereby lessening your likelihood of getting heartburn. If you’ve heard the TV commercials advertising Prevacid, you will know it’s a PPI that’s prescribed for patients suffering with acid reflux, that is a severe type of heartburn. It’s not a suitable medication for everyone who has occasional bouts of heartburn, though, so talk with your physician to determine if he feels you’ll benefit from taking it. It can result in diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, and nausea for some patients.
A third form of heartburn medication consists of H-2 blockers, like Zantac, that can be purchased over-the-counter. These medicines are a lot less potent than their prescription counterparts, however they may deal with your problem, for the reason that do effectively block acid production.
Should you are afflicted by heartburn, even infrequently, there’s no doubt you’ll want to find some form of heartburn remedies which will relieve the symptoms and also keep them from coming to start with. Talk to a medical doctor about your options, and let him recommend the best plan to suit your needs.