Heartburn – How to Spell Relief

What is the best heartburn relief? The question is asked by millions who suffer from this common complaint. Perhaps they just ate too fast or too much. Maybe they ate spicy, fatty food – or their clothing is too tight. Whatever the circumstances, they are suffering a heartburn attack, and are looking for heartburn relief.

Heartburn medication is easy to find. Your local grocery store or pharmacy offers a wide selection. But what is the best heartburn relief?

Does It Really Spell Relief?

One heartburn medication has long claimed that its name spells relief. This heartburn medication is an antacid. It and similar antacids fill store shelves, promising relief from acid indigestion, heartburn, and sour stomach. The idea behind them is to neutralize the acid in the stomach. Some people believe the cause of heartburn is excess acid in the stomach. If that is true, they reason, the best heartburn relief is to chew a couple of Tums, Rolaids, Maalox, or some other antacid.

Antacids can provide short-term heartburn relief, but should not be used regularly. Antacids usually cause only minor side effects, which may include constipation, diarrhea, headaches, or nausea. The side effects of these heartburn relief medications go away on their own.

Acid Reducers

Relief of heartburn may require something stronger than antacids. Over-the-counter (OTC) heartburn medications that claim to be acid reducers promise heartburn relief in such cases. Among the OTC acid reducers are the following.

* H2 blockers: H2 blockers require more time to act than antacids, but provide heartburn relief for a longer period of time. H2 blockers reduce the amount of acid produced by the stomach. Some heartburn medications combine H2 blockers with antacids. Pepcid Complete is one such brand name heartburn medication. Such a combination medicine is said to give heartburn relief right away. The relief is said to last for many hours.

* Bismuth subsalicylate: This acid reducer works by balancing the manner in which fluid moves through the bowels. It is said to bind bacterial poisons to remove their risk, and kill germs. This heartburn relief medication is used also to treat diarrhea and vomiting.

* Proton pump inhibitors: Proton pump inhibitors shut down production of acid in the stomach. Heartburn relief medications of this type require 1 to 4 days before they begin to work.

What is the best heartburn relief medication for you? That depends. If you are taking other prescription medications, you should always talk to your health care provider before using any heartburn relief medication. Even aspirin can be a problem if you take a bismuth subsalicylate OTC drug.

CAUTION: The author is not a licensed medical professional. The information given here is for educational purposes only. Please discuss your heartburn symptoms and heartburn relief medications with your doctor.