Before taking an acid reflux treatment , it is essential to implement measures to prevent its recurrence and change some habits. If this is not enough, people who suffer GERD severely can obtain simple and effective treatments to relieve their symptoms. However, chronic acid reflux is a disease, and it is sometimes necessary to continue long-term medication.
SEVERAL drugs can be administered to DECREASE gastric acidity :
* Antacids (Maalox ®, Rolaids ®, Tums ®), which neutralize stomach acid, to take in case of symptoms. If you must use over- the-counter antacids for more than three weeks, it is necessary to consult your doctor;
* H2 antagonists (Axid ®, Pepcid ®, Zantac ®, Tagamet ®), which reduce stomach acid production. H2 antagonists are available OTC and are usually sufficient to treat mild cases, together with prevention tips outlined above. However, it is not advisable to take antacids for a long period as they may interferes with the absorption of some nutrients;
* Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). If antacids or H2 antagonists obtained over the counter do not relieve the symptoms, the doctor could then prescribe stronger H2 antagonists (or more frequent use) or PPI (Losec ®, Nexium ®, Pantoloc ®, Pariet ®, Prevacid ®). While these are the most effective drugs for treating acid reflux drugs, they can cause side effects if not taken properly. Therefore it is essential to follow the recommendations of your doctor. Moreover, in addition to medication, the doctor may recommend to exclude or limit certain foods.
Sometimes multivitamins are recommended by experts to some people who are under anti-reflux medication to avoid some deficiencies . Indeed, the anti-reflux medications may decrease the absorption of nutrients and some drugs. If you follow the treatment, consult your doctor or pharmacist.
In case of failure of drug therapy, surgery to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease is possible, it is mostly reserved for patients with severe complications, and it is rarely necessary. However, surgery is more common in cases of hiatal hernia. This concludes the review of the main Acid Reflux Treatments.
