Medical Treatment Options for GERD Sufferers

When it comes to medications for the treatment of GERD you are left with a few different options. If you suffer from occasional heartburn for example, antacids can be purchased without a prescription and they might be enough to do the trick. There are other types of medications that a doctor might prescribe if he or she feels it is warranted. Doctors can prescribe medications that halt the production of stomach acid and there are also other kinds of medications that aid the stomach muscles in emptying the stomach as quickly and as efficiently as possible.

Antacids are a quick, simple solution when it comes to relieving occasional bouts of heartburn as well as symptoms of GERD that are mild in nature. Some of the most popular antacids sold on the market include Alka-Seltzer, Maalox, Mylanta, Pepto-Bismol, Riopan and Rolaids. The three main salts used in the making of antacids include aluminum, calcium and magnesium while some antacids also contain bicarbonate ions or hydroxide ions that work to neutralize stomach acid.

Be aware of the fact that antacids do have their share of side effects and if you find yourself relying on them too much then you might want to schedule an appointment with your doctor to discuss the health condition. The magnesium salt in antacids can lead to diarrhea while the aluminum salts can bring on constipation. Often times manufacturers of antacids combine aluminum and magnesium salts in one antacid in order to balance out the bad aspects of each.

Besides antacids there are also over-the-counter foaming agents that work to prevent acid reflux by spraying a fine coating of foam over food that is in the stomach. The most popular brand on the market is called Gaviscon. Foaming products work the best for those in the early stages of GERD who have not as yet had any damage done to their esophagus.

There are H2 blockers available and some can be purchased over-the-counter while others are by prescription only. H2 blockers can only provide relief on a short-term basis and the ones that can be bought over-the-counter are only safe to use for a week or two at a time on a consistent basis. The successful rate for patients with GERD is mixed as approximately only half of the individuals who take these find relief. The most common types of H2 blockers include Axid AR (nizatidine), Pepcid AC (famotidine), Tagamet HB (cimetidine) and Zantac 75 (ranitidine). Many people find relief only when a proton pump inhibitor accompanies an H2 blocker. If you are taking the over-the-counter variety of H2 blockers, never take them consistently for more than two to three weeks without checking in with your doctor about the safety of doing so.

Proton pump inhibitors tend to be the most effective at relieving symptoms of GERD in practically all sufferers. Proton pump inhibitors are prescription only and a physician must closely monitor them. Names of proton pump inhibitors that are commonly prescribed include Aciphex (rabeprazole), Prevacid (lansprazole), Prilosec (omeprazole) and Protonix (pantoprazole). Prilosec in the form of Prilosec OTC is the only one of the proton pump inhibitors that can be purchased over-the-counter at a pharmacy.

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