Standard Medications For The Treatment Of Acid Reflux

After considering some details of your medical history like age and preexisting diseases, a doctor could prescribe one of several different medications to treat your acid reflux, keeping in mind any side effects that could be produced by the medication.

Some medications are designed to reduce the production of acid, some enhance the muscle performance in the abdomen, and some help in clearing the stomach. Most medications would be available across the counter, but it is always better to check things out with your doctor before starting on anything.

The grand majority of acid reflux sufferers take antacids. Antacids neutralize stomach acid and are most effective if used in the bicarbonate or hydroxide form. Antacids contain calcium, aluminum, or magnesium salts. Although they are purchasable over the counter, side effects can include diarrhea resulting from magnesium and constipation from aluminum. Since individuals with diabetes can experience potentially deadly results from diarrhea induced by magnesium salts, medicating acid reflux with antacids should be a decision that is not taken with first understanding the potential risks based on your particular health situation.

There is also what is known as Foaming agents, often marketed under names like Gaviscon. These generate a kind of Foam in the abdominal cavity, which covers the reflux acid in the stomach, and keeps it from swishing up through the Esophageal Sphincter.

Some medications reduce your bodys level of acid production to treat acid reflux disease. Drugs that fall into this category, called H2 blockers, include Zantac, Pepcid, nizatidine, and cimetidine. Instead of simply trying to determine which dosage of an H2 drug is best for you by trial and error, speak to a doctor and get their professional advice. Fortunately, more than half of patients with acid reflux disease are relieved of their symptoms by taking H2 medications.

Then we have what are called Proton Pump Inhibitors drugs that differ and cause long-lasting reduction of gastric acid production. They are the most potent medications available. Prilosec, Zegerid, Prevacid, Protonix, Aciphex, Nexium, are all-available by prescription. Proton pump inhibitors are more effective than H2 blockers.

Another kind of medication that makes the lower esophageal sphincter stronger is prokinetics. These drugs usually cause people to experience unpleasant side effects like fatigue, depression, anxiety, bad coordination, and tiredness. Therefore, prokinetics are not widely used.

In most situations, a doctor will take your personal case of acid reflux into consideration and recommend a combination of the above mentioned treatment options in an effort to help you combat the symptoms in a well rounded way.

By: Frank Robson

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