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.
Each medication is designed slightly differently. Some will help abdominal muscles to work better. Others assist in clearing the stomach and reducing acid production. Even though the majority of medications can be purchased at any local drug store, consulting with your doctor before taking medicine is always a better choice.
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.
Another treatment option, foaming agents like Gaviscon create foam in the abdomen that covers over excessive stomach acids, preventing them from reentering the esophagus and damaging the esophageal sphincter.
Medications we hear of, frequently, like Pepcid, Zantac etc, come under the category H2 blockers. These drugs actually decrease acid production. Cimetidine ,Pepcid, nizatidine, and Zantac come in this category. and fifty percent of Acid Reflux sufferers find relief from these medications. It is , however, advisable at all times to fix the dosage in consultation with your doctor, and avoid trial and error methods.
Proton pump inhibitors are still another type of drug. They reduce the amount of gastric acid you produce on a more long term basis. Drugs falling into this very potent category are Prilosec, Prevacid, Protonix, Nexium, Zegerid, and Acipex. Differing from other acid reflux medications, these drugs are available by prescription.
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.
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