Finding The Right Over The Counter Heartburn Medicine

Heartburn is a condition that affects many people, thus it is normal if there are various heartburn medicines in the market nowadays. In general, heartburn is not a serious condition and it can be easily treated with some over the counter medications. However, in some cases heartburn becomes persistent and occurs frequently. In this case, it is best to visit your doctor to get proper diagnosis and make sure that you do not suffer any permanent damage to your esophagus. The doctor should be able to advise you on the most effective heartburn medicine that suits your individual needs.

Different over the counter heartburn medicines

Most occasional heartburn cases should be able to be treated effectively with many over the counter heartburn medicines that are available nowadays. Antacid medicines, like Maalox and Rolaids, are the most common ones in the market. They work by neutralizing the stomach acid which will provide immediate relief if you are suffering from occasional heartburn. However, if the heartburn is chronic, then these heartburn medicines will be not sufficient to treat the esophagus that has been damaged by continuous exposure to the stomach acids.

A stronger type of heartburn medicine is called H-2-receptor blocker. Some well known examples of this medicine are Tagamet and Pepcid. They used to be prescribed medicines, but nowadays they are available over the counter. They work differently then antacids, but they are effective to curb heartburn symptoms. Instead of neutralizing the stomach acids, these medicines reduce the production of stomach acids. Normally they do not work as quickly as antacids, but they are more effective to prevent heartburn symptoms. Furthermore, they last for a much longer period of time.

If you are suffering from chronic heartburn that has damaged your esophagus, then an over the counter heartburn medicine that you should try is proton pump inhibitor, such as Prilosec. The same like previous medicine, proton pump inhibitor was prescribed medicine that is made available over the counter. This particular heartburn medicine blocks the production of stomach acid, thus allowing your esophagus to heal from the damage that it has undergone. If you are planning to take this medicine, it is better to consult your doctor first so you will know the extent of the damage to your esophagus.

Heartburn is disturbing and it is uncomfortable to deal with the condition, especially if the symptoms happen frequently. Fortunately, there is continuous research to find an effective treatment for the condition. Now there are plenty over the counter heartburn medicines that you can use to treat the symptoms, thus you can stay free from heartburn and do your daily activities as usual.

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