If you get mild heartburn occasionally, an antacid bought over the counter could relieve the symptoms. However, if these symptoms persist and you start getting heartburn regularly, your body could be telling you to change your lifestyle. Constant heartburn could also be a symptom of something worse than an unhealthy lifestyle, such as peptic ulcers or stomach cancer. If you get heartburn regularly, you need to see your doctor and have the symptoms checked out.
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There are 4 types of over-the-counter drugs that can be used to treat heartburn. Most of them are available without prescription, but there are some for which you may need a doctor's prescription. Speak to your GP and pharmacist to clarify this.
The four main types of over-the-counter remedies are antacids, H2 receptor antagonists, drugs that provide protection for the stomach lining and oesophagus, and antispasmodics.
Antacids
These are the most commonly used drugs for heartburn. They are available from chemists, 24-hour shops and supermarkets. Antacids (anti-acids) neutralise the acid in your stomach on the short term.
They are simple alkalis and examples of these are aluminium hydroxide, magnesium trisilicate and sodium bicarbonate. The first of these could cause constipation in certain people, and the second diarrhoea. Most people experience no side-effects. The last of these, sodium bicarbonate, contains salt and should therefore be avoided by people with kidney disease, heart disease or high blood pressure.
Some antibiotics also should not be taken in conjunction with antacids. This is usually indicated on the label.
H2 receptor antagonists
These drugs reduce heartburn by reducing the amount of acid your stomach produces. Most of these drugs are only available on prescription, but there are some that can be obtained over the counter. These are usually only enough for two weeks and are somewhat weaker than those obtained on prescription.
These drugs should not be taken without the knowledge of your doctor, especially if you are taking medication to control chronic asthma, epilepsy or medication to thin the blood. The drugs that do not combine with H2 receptor antagonists are warfarin, phenytoin and aminophylline.
H2 receptor antagonists should be taken just before the time you would usually expect to get heartburn.
Protective drugs
These drugs do not reduce acid, or acid production – they rather form a protective lining on the inside of the stomach and the oesophagus, so that stomach acid does not do any damage.
Their main ingedient is alginate, made from seaweed. This medicine, which often also contains antacids, floats on the stomach contents and puts an end to the burning sensation which is felt when reflux occurs.
These drugs should be treated in the same manner as antacids, when taken in conjunction with other medications.
Antispasmodics
Peppermint oil and alverine citrate are both examples of antispasmodics. They treat heartburn by reducing the tension in the muscle wall of the stomach. They also reduce that feeling of bloatedness, which many sufferers associate with heartburn.
These drugs are natural products and, unlike some of the other heartburn medications, have no side effects.
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