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How to Know Which Heartburn Medicine is Right
for You
Heartburn is a condition that nearly everyone suffers from at
one time or another. In the majority of cases, heartburn is not
considered a serious condition and can be treated effectively
at home with over the counter medications. If heartburn becomes
a more persistent or chronic condition, you may decide to visit
your doctor to ensure that you are not suffering any permanent
damage to your esophagus as a result, and to find more
effective heartburn medicines to treat your condition. The key
to comfort in the case of heartburn is to find the best
heartburn medicine that will meet your individual needs.
Over the Counter Heartburn Medicines
Most people that suffer from occasional heartburn will be able
to treat the symptoms effectively with the large selection of
over the counter (OTC) medications available. The most common
medicine to start with is the antacids, such as Maalox or
Rolaids. These heartburn medicines work by neutralizing the
acid in the stomach, which can bring quick and effective relief
to the occasional heartburn sufferer. However, if you
experience frequent or chronic heartburn, these heartburn
medicines will not be able to treat or heal an esophagus that
has been damaged by recurring exposure to the stomach
acids.
If you know that certain foods are going to cause your
heartburn symptoms to flare up, another choice in heartburn
medicine is an H-2-receptor blocker. These medications go by
names like Tagamet or Pepcid, and used to be available by
prescription only. Now heartburn sufferers can find these
medications at OTC doses that can be highly effective in
curbing heartburn symptoms. Instead of neutralizing the acid
like antacids do, these heartburn medicines actually reduce the
amount of acid that the stomach produces. They are generally
not as quick as the antacids, but can be highly effective in
preventing heartburn symptoms, and will last for a longer
period of time.
If you have experienced frequent heartburn that has caused
damage to your esophagus, another OTC heartburn medicine that
you can try is a proton pump inhibitor, like Prilosec. This is
another prescription heartburn medicine that is now available
in OTC strength. This medication actually blocks the production
of acid, in order to allow your esophagus time to heal from the
damage that has been done. If you think that you need this type
of heartburn medicine, it is a good idea to talk to your doctor
first to determine the extent of damage to your esophagus.
Heartburn can be an uncomfortable condition to deal with,
particularly if you experience the symptoms on a frequent
basis. The good news is that there are plenty of good OTC
heartburn medicines that can effectively treat your symptoms
and allow you to enjoy more pain-free days and
nights.
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