Top Five Acid Reflux Prescription Medications

Finding the right acid reflux prescription medications is something that turns out to be very simple, but for others, there may involve some trial and error involved.

This heartburn acid reflux condition has a number of effective treatments and medications. Once you find something that works for you, you will probably have to take it for a few months to heal damage, though sometimes lifestyle changes can work wonders and you might be able to stop sooner. Most medications are of the once-a-day variety, but your doctor will tailor your prescription to your needs.

Here are five of the most common and most used medications for acid reflux.


Prilosec (generic name- omeprazole): You have probably seen commercials for Prilosec on television, and you might think it is an over-the-counter medication. Though there is an OTC form, there is also prescription strength available. This type of medication is a PPI, which stands for ‘proton pump inhibitor.’ This means that the medication is meant to lessen the amount of acid the stomach produces. Less acid production means less acid going up through the weakened stomach valve. This medication can promote healing of damaged tissues in as little as two months. This drug is swallowed whole, and has not been tested on pregnant or nursing moms.


Nexium (generic name- esomeprazole): Like Prilosec, this is a drug that is a PPI. It suppresses the enzymes that produce stomach acid to alleviate the symptoms and damage associated with GERD or gastric reflux. This comes in pill form, but there is an intravenous dose for special cases. This is often taken one hour before a meal, and is swallowed whole for best results. Also like Prilosec, this has not been studied with pregnant and nursing women.

Prevacid (generic name-lansoprazole): This is another of the PPI drugs, and it helps retard acid production while allowing the damaged tissues in the esophagus to properly heal. They can be swallowed, or there are tablets that can be placed under the tongue to dissolve rather than swallowed whole. Intravenous doses are available for those who cannot handle the tablet. This is also not be recommended for women who are pregnant or nursing.

Protonix (generic name- pantoprazole): Protonix is also a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) but is perhaps not as well known as the others. It works in the same manner though, and comes in only pill form at this time. Though this is a treatment for GERD, it is also known to be an effective treatment for ulcers. This pill might be taken in whole form only about 30 minutes before a meal for up to two months to decide if it is effective and if healing has occurred. This can not yet be recommended for pregnant and/or nursing women.

Tagamet (generic name-cimetidine): Though this is often thought of as an over-the-counter medication, it is available in prescription strength for those with persistent and daily heartburn problems. This works to stop acid production, but is different than the PPI variety of drug. It blocks histamines, which are known to stimulate acid production. In most cases, the prescription strength is only needed when there has been damage to the tissues. This is taken in pill form, and there is no research as to whether pregnant or nursing women should take it or not.

As with any type of medication, there is always the possibility that one of these might interact with other medications you may be taking for another condition, so be sure to let both your doctor and your pharmacist know what else you are taking.

You should find relief very quickly with each of these, and if you don’t, speak with your doctor. You might need a different dosage of these acid reflux prescription medications, or you may not have acid reflux at all. There are times when other problems can mimic this condition, so if your meds are not working, you should get a second opinion as to the cause of your symptoms.

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Change Your Diet To Combat Heartburn Symptoms

One of the best way to control your heartburn acid reflux symptoms is to get yourself onto a heartburn acid reflux friendly diet. Initially, it seems difficult to give up some of your favorite foods. The thought that heartburn acid reflux symptoms is just mere inconvenience, you may just continue with your current lifestyle. If you leave it untreated, it may lead to more or even complicated problem like GERD or even cancer.



Here are some suggestions you can consider for modify your diet.



Milk: When indigestion strikes, many reach for milk to soothe the stomach. No doubt, milk has a calming affect for many people, it is not necessarily a good choice in your diet if you suffer from acid reflux.

Drinking a glass of milk before bedtime is a common habit as milk can induce sleep. But, when you sleep, milk can encourage your body to churn out more acid, leading to painful reflux symptoms. If you wish to drink milk, you should have it earlier in the day. Should you really wish to have some milk at night, how about drinking a small glass and accompany it with some bread or any other high carbohydrate type of food. This will speed up digestion and reduce the potential of developing acid reflux symptoms.



Fats: Do you know that fatty foods take longer time to digest and that encourages your body to produce more acid to digest those fats? If you still like to have some fatty food, eat only a small portion. Take note that any fats may slow digestion, and if your reflux is flaring, avoid them as much as you can.



Fried Foods: Eating fried foods, whether deep-fried or stir fried, is a common acid reflux trigger for many people. Getting people to give up fried foods is the toughest because fried foods tend tend to be many people's favorite dishes. Instead of frying most of your food, you can try out heartburn-friendly cooking techniques like grill, broil, bake. May be the foods won't taste as good as fried, but you'll find more satisfying because they help you to minimize the likelihood of triggering an acid reflux episode.



===> Learn more about Heartburn-Friendly Cooking Techiques



Carbonated Drinks: Soft drinks or sodas like Coke, 7-up are a popular choice of beverages among many people. Unfortunately, for heartburn acid reflux sufferers it is advisable not consume them at all. The gas in these drinks can contribute to burping, and can encourage acid to reflux into the esophagus. If you must drink soda, the best way is to allow it go flat before drinking to reduce the impact of the carbonation. As you know drinking a flat soda, it is no different from drinking a flavored drink without bubbling gas. Furthermore, most sodas contain caffeine which is another common heartburn acid reflux trigger. The best beverage to have is still the plain water.



Fruit: There are some fruits and fruit juices you should avoid in your new diet. Most citrus fruits like orange and pineapple can stimulate acid production, and are common triggers. The acidic juice can bring on flare ups of acid reflux. Instead of having orange and pineapple, you can eat fruits that are not in the citrus category. How about trying bananas or berries or papayas and monitor your symptoms. You don’t have to give up all fruits, but you may have to be more selective when choosing.



===> Learn more about Can Papaya Help to Remedy Heartburn



Thus, by taking steps to make some adjustments to your diet for better heartburn acid reflux control, and to also make other lifestyles changes, this helps to minimize future health risks and your need to take prescription medications multiple times a year. Isn't this a wise choice?



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Heartburn Can Cause Three Unusual Symptoms

We all know that acid reflux is relatively common among people. Interestingly, the range of heartburn symptoms is wide. Some symptoms are easily recognizable while others are a bit unusual. Thus, it may be difficult to diagnose as the symptoms caused by heartburn.

GERD can cause you to suffer from symptoms that can range from very mild – almost unnoticeable – to ones that are actually life threatening like cancer. Bear in mind, the more serious heartburn symptoms are normally have developed over time. So if you do feel a bit of discomfort, please do not panic. Simply, you make a doctor’s appointment to get your doctor to check for you. This way, it ensures that you know the degree and type of GERD you are suffering from and what your treatment options are.

Besides the usual heartburn symptoms, you may want to watch out the following symptoms:

Pain – though pain is one of the more common symptoms heartburn has to offer, there are forms of pain that are considered to be quite unusual. For example, the typical pain felt from GERD includes a burning sensation in the mid to upper chest region, or a burning sensation in the esophagus or lower throat area. However, more rare are pains that migrate to the shoulder blade or overall shoulder area.

Vomiting – among the more unpleasant symptoms heartburn presents is varying degrees of vomiting. This can include wet or sour burps, wet hiccups, or food coming up a bit within an hour of eating. Less common versions of this potential symptom of GERD include feelings of nausea during or soon after eating or sometimes projectile vomiting. It may not be common but there have been cases where this has occurred and should be checked if you experience these symptoms and suspect GERD.

Respiratory – the respiratory system is easily impacted by GERD and therefore frequently presents with symptoms caused by heartburn. These commonly include a runny nose, bad breath, recurrent sore throat, sinus infections, upper respiratory infections, wheezing, bronchitis, asthma, a nagging dry cough, coughing at night, frequent throat clearing, labored or noisy breathing, a hoarse or deepened voice, or nodules on the vocal cords. Rarely however, GERD can develop into sleep apnea, aspiration (inhalation of stomach acids into the lungs), pneumonia, and laryngospasm (a brief spasm of the vocal cords that temporarily interrupts breathing, usually lasting up to 30 seconds).

Due to so many different kinds of symptoms – and a range of uncommon symptoms that can easily be mistaken for other illnesses, diseases, and conditions – acid reflux may not be the obvious choice as a diagnosis. If you suspect you may be suffering from any of these unusual heartburn symptoms, it is best to quickly consult your doctor quickly to get a formal diagnosis. Only a doctor can ascertain whether the symptoms that you are suffering are caused by GERD. This is especially true in the case of children, who may need different remedy options than adults.

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