Antacids are great for providing quick relief from heartburn symptoms. They work directly in the stomach to decrease the acidity of the reflux liquid irritating the esophagus. They also help neutralize the area inside the esophagus. When antacids and a foaming agent are combined, they produce a foam barrier in the stomach. This barrier floats over the contents of the stomach preventing acid from splashing up into the esophagus.
Keep in mind that these foaming agents or antacids do not heal esophagitis or prevent complications of acid reflux. Some other medications can actually aggravate acid reflux symptoms. For this reason, it is very important to let your doctor know of everything you may be taking.
Long-term use of antacids can cause some side effects. Some may include diarrhea or constipation. Others may experience an increase of kidney stones. Antacids can reduce the absorption of certain drugs so using these other drugs about an hour before taking the antacid is recommended. If using antacids for an extended period of time, a doctor should be consulted.
H2 receptor antagonists help inhibit acid secretion in the stomach. They are also known as H2 blockers. They usually work in about thirty minutes and will last up to eight hours. There are over the counter H2 blockers and prescription H2 blockers. The over the counter version does not relieve symptoms as quickly as antacids but they last much longer. They may be slow to start but help reduce the acid reflux for a much longer time.
H2 blockers have been the traditional drug treatment in acid reflux because many of them can be an effective short term therapy for resistant acid reflux symptoms. For many, taking these drugs twice a day will eliminate the symptoms. For example, 150 mg of Ranitidine, has been noted as healing esophagitis within six weeks for some.
When taking these drugs as treatment, one must remember that high doses are more effective than the standard doses, taking them twice a day is more effective than taking them once a day and H2 blockers are generally less expensive than other medications.
The lower dose, over the counter version of these drugs is available to help control occasional occurences of heartburn. Some of these are Ranitidine (75mg), Nizatidine (75mg) and Famotidine (10mg). These will take longer to act than antacids but they will provide relief much longer.
A couple of other popular drugs that are on the market are Tagamet HB and Zantac 75. In addition, newer drugs are available that claim to actually help heal the damage. Consultation with your doctor will provide the appropriate facts to help you make an educated decision. As for Tagamet (cimetidine), the prescribed dose is usually 300 mg, three times a day for three to six weeks. Many people experience positive results after just two to four weeks. Regarding Zantac (ranitidine HCI), the prescribed dose is usually 150 mg two times a day for four to six weeks depending on the individual response. Sometimes, a single dose of 300 mg at bedtime may be suggested. Even though both of these medications can be purchases over the counter at a lesser dose, consultation with a doctor is highly recommended.
