Acid Reflux Foods

Acid Reflux Medications to Help Relieve Symptoms

When it comes to acid reflux medications, there are wide varieties to choose from addressing almost every symptom. There are some that are prescription while the rest are easily obtained over the counter. If you are using medications over the counter now and they aren’t helping, then you need to talk to your doctor.

The most common of the acid reflux medications are the antacids. An antacid will neutralize the acid in your stomach, therefore when the acid does rise, it will not burn. This is the first and most reliable way to treat your heartburn symptoms.

Acid reflux medications have 3 main ingredients. They are calcium, magnesium and/or aluminum. The magnesium is a salt that comes in the form of magnesium carbonate, magnesium hydroxide and magnesium trisilicate. If you have ever heard of Milk of Magnesia, the major ingredient there is magnesium hydroxide. There is an unpleasant side effect of diarrhea that is associated with this type of treatment. You can find products that will have both the magnesium salts and aluminum and these will be Maalox and Mylanta.

Calcium is commonly used in acid reflux medications providing needed relief. You can find calcium carbonate in the most convenient forms, such as Tums or Rolaids and Alka Seltzer. The reason this works so well is that it works quickly, a negative side effect could be constipation.

You will find aluminum salts in products such as Amphogel and Alternagel. These also have a side effect of constipation. If you take these in high doses, you are at risk for developing osteoporosis, which is when you start to lose bone density and healthy bone tissue. You can counteract this with exercise and supplements with vitamin and minerals.

If you want fast treatment, you will find it in the liquid acid reflux medications. The tablets are easier to use, but take a bit longer to work. But the liquid, if taken over a long period of time, may increase your risk of kidney stones.

There are some prescriptions that are H2 blockers and others that work as Receptor Antagonists. These will actually inhibit your stomach from producing acid, therefore reducing the chance of acid coming up into your esophagus.

Tags: acid reflux medications

This entry was posted on Tuesday, November 11th, 2008 at 7:22 pm and is filed under Acid Reflux. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.