Treating Heartburn Effectively
September 15th, 2008Acid reducers, such as Ranitidine and Famotidine, have been out for some time now and are available over the counter. For mild forms of acid reflux, having a stock of some of these medications may be all you need. If you are only prone to getting occasional heartburn after eating, taking an acid reducer prior to a big, spicy or greasy meal will probably prevent it.
If you suffer from heartburn daily, even without having eaten recently, you’ll probably want to talk to your doctor about a proton pump inhibitor (PPI). PPIs are the more serious and effective acid reflux medications. They take a day or more to begin working effectively, but they are safe and have few side effects. One of them, Prilosec, is now even available over the counter. You can also safely take PPIs along with acid reducers. I take a Prilosec everyday, as well as occasional acid reducers, and the combination for me is like a cure for acid reflux.
Avoiding big meals, avoid excessive grease or fats, waiting several hours after eating before laying down, and even elevating your bed 8 or more inches, all will help lower symptoms, and for milder cases may alone act as a cure for acid reflux spikes you have. For everyone else, medication is our only hope at the moment. There are some surgical procedures on the horizon that may be the cures for acid reflux we’re hoping for, but its too soon to tell if they’ll work or not.
