By: Shelagh McNally for Reflux1More than 60 million Americans suffer from GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) at least once a month and many turn to a variety of popular heartburn drugs to relieve their symptoms.
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Tips for Taking your GERD Medication:- Antacids will affect your bowels. Calcium carbonate is an excellent source of diatary calcium but can cause constipation while magnesium hydroxide loosens stool.
- People with a weakened immune system or either kidney or liver disease should consult a doctor before taking any H2-receptor blockers.
- When taking a PPI, if your side effects continue beyond week three, consult your doctor to try another type of PPI. Avoid PPIs if you have any type of liver condition.
- PPIs do not provide instant relief so if you suffer only occasional heartburn (one to two times per week) then you should consider an OTC remedy.
- Contact your doctor immediately if you develop a rash or hives, itching or difficulty breathing or swallowing while taking any medication.
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Milder symptoms can be treated with fast acting over the counter (OTC) medications. Antacids including Tums, Maalox, Gaviscon, Mylanta and Rolaids contain either calcium carbonate or magnesium hydroxide that neutralize stomach acid. They are intended for occasional use only since prolonged use may mask a more serious condition. Common side effects of antacids may include diarrhea, constipation, belching and flatulence. Another OTC remedy is the histamine-receptor-blockers (H2) that reduce the amount of acid the stomach produces. Popular name brands include Axid (nizatidine), Pepcid (famotidine), Tagamet (cimetidine) and Zantac (ranitidine). All must be taken with food since this medicine can upset the stomach. Common side effects include sleepiness, headaches, constipation and sometimes abdominal pain. H2- receptor-blockers are most effective at night.
Those suffering from long-term GERD usually turn to drugs known as proton pump inhibitors (PPI) that actually reduce acid as well as blocking acid production in the stomach lining by as much at 95 percent. PPIs have also proven to be highly effective in treating esophagitis (esophageal inflammation) and esophageal erosions, two problems often caused by acid reflux. They are, however, much slower to work than typical antacids.
Recently the PPI Prilosec (omeprazole) became the first proton pump inhibitor to be sold as an OTC medication. Recently there has been a shortage of Prilosec with customers waiting for many weeks for fresh stock. As a result many are turning to the five other most popular PPIs that include Prevacid (lansoprazole), Nexium (esomeprazole), Aciphex (rabeprazole) and Protonix (pantoprazole). Since all must be prescribed by a doctor they are typically five to six times more expensive than Prilosec. Regardless of the cost, the most common side effects of any PPIs are abdominal pain, headache, diarrhea, dry mouth, light-headedness, headache and rash. Most of the side effects disappear by the third week. PPI drugs are most effective during the day, especially after meals, but don’t necessarily work well at night. Round the clock acid suppression is best achieved by using a PPI two or three times a day before meals and an H2-receptor-blocker at bedtime.
As time goes on, more and more Americans are suffering from GERD. In 2003, Americans spent $13.5 billion on prescription PPIs making them the second- biggest-selling class of drugs, after cholesterol-lowering medicines. "These conditions are so common and the drugs are so safe that patients go through them like water," said Nicholas Shaheen, director of the Center for Esophageal Diseases and Swallowing at the University of North Carolina.
