Acid reflux medicine can play an important part in a reflux sufferers life. In a normal digestive process, the partially digested food is forwarded by muscular movements from the stomach to the intestines. However, for some people, the stomach contents travel back to the esophagus from the stomach. This condition is known as acid reflux.
Some common acid reflux treatment symptoms include heartburn, difficulty in swallowing, regurgitation, chest pains, dental erosion, hoarseness, asthma, dyspepsia, vomiting, and many others. An acid reflux sore throat is also a very common symptom.
If not properly treated, acid reflux can last for several months. But drug treatment can play an essential part in the treatment process of a patient.
Basically, acid reflux medicines inhibit the production or release of pepsin produced by the chief cells and hydrochloric acid produced by the parietal cells in the stomach. Other medicines may not totally inhibit the production but they neutralize the acid.
The most common acid reflux medications include the following:
Antacids as an acid reflux treatment are are used to neutralize the acids in the digestive tract and are primarily taken in for relief of mild symptoms, such as occasional episodes of indigestion and heartburn. They also act to incite the defensive mechanisms of our stomach by building up the secretion of mucous and bicarbonate. Most antacids can be bought over the counter even without a medical prescription. Moreover, these acid reflux drugs are one of the first to be recommended by professionals to lessen the pain brought about by heartburn or mild symptoms. The three basic ingredients of antacids are magnesium, calcium, and aluminum.
Another commonly used medicine for acid reflux is acid suppressants such as histamine blockers. Histamine blockers obstruct the production of stomach acids by alienating the actions of histamine. Histamine is a chemical in the body that promotes the production and secretion of acids in the stomach. Anti-histamines are available even without prescription and offer relief of symptoms in most of the patients with frequent acid reflux. Patients have to wait for 30 to 90 minutes for these drugs to provide acid reflux relief. But their effect also lasts six to 24 hours. In cases of severe reflux symptoms, a patient may have to take two dosages a day. In some researches, histamine blockers have shown to improve asthmatic symptoms in those who endure from both acid reflux and asthma.
Proton pump inhibitors are also employed as a medication. They act to trim down the production of stomach acids by reacting with the cells found in the stomach wall which produce and release acids into the stomach. However, researches have revealed that the use of proton pump inhibitors poses some concerns. Side effects, although uncommon, include diarrhea, headache, itching, and nausea. Women with an Acid Reflux Pregnancy or breastfeeding mothers should stay away from these drugs and contact their physician if they feel the need to use them.
Another medication that is generally handled is the use of agents which protect the mucus lining in the gastrointestinal region. This kind of drug acts by attaching to an ulcer crater so that it will be guarded from damage caused by digestive acids. It is advisable for people undergoing acid reflux therapy with mild or moderate acid reflux conditions. Likewise, it has minor side effects, including constipation. In some very severe cases an acid reflux surgery is required, but this typically occurs because the person didn’t do much in the way of acid reflux prevention. In these cases an acid reflux doctor (gastroenterologists) would need to be consulted.
Enteryx acid reflux therapy had great potential, but was recalled because of patient injuries. Enteryx was effective in the management of acid reflux, as evidenced by the ability of acid reflux patients with a history of use of PPIs and other GERD medications to eliminate or significantly reduce use of these medications.
There is of course the herbal remedies for acid reflux that many reflux sufferers use. I won’t get into those right now, but know that a lot of people believe in them. You also have the acid reflux natural cure, which typically rely on a non acid reflux medication treatment as well as acid reflux foods to avoid.
As the cliché goes, an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure, you can avoid having acid reflux or GERD by avoiding too much smoking and alcohol, and by eating less of spicy and greasy food. When taking NSAIDs, be sure you take it after meals. Lastly, avoid stress because it stimulates the release of the deadly acid.
My acid reflux cure is in the form of prevention. I strongly believe in creating an acid reflux diet to overcome the symptoms of acid reflux.
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