Which Heartburn Medicine is Right for You

Heartburn is a condition that nearly everyone suffers from at one time or another. In the majority of cases, heartburn is not considered a serious condition and can be treated effectively at home with over the counter medications. If heartburn becomes a more persistent or chronic condition, you may decide to visit your doctor to ensure that you are not suffering any permanent damage to your esophagus as a result, and to find more effective heartburn medicines to treat your condition. The key to comfort in the case of heartburn is to find the best heartburn medicine that will meet your individual needs.

Over the Counter Heartburn Medicines

Most people that suffer from occasional heartburn will be able to treat the symptoms effectively with the large selection of over the counter (OTC) medications available. The most common medicine to start with is the antacids, such as Maalox or Rolaids. These heartburn medicines work by neutralizing the acid in the stomach, which can bring quick and effective relief to the occasional heartburn sufferer. However, if you experience frequent or chronic heartburn, these heartburn medicines will not be able to treat or heal an esophagus that has been damaged by recurring exposure to the stomach acids.

If you know that certain foods are going to cause your heartburn symptoms to flare up, another choice in heartburn medicine is an H-2-receptor blocker. These medications go by names like Tagamet or Pepcid, and used to be available by prescription only. Now heartburn sufferers can find these medications at OTC doses that can be highly effective in curbing heartburn symptoms. Instead of neutralizing the acid like antacids do, these heartburn medicines actually reduce the amount of acid that the stomach produces. They are generally not as quick as the antacids, but can be highly effective in preventing heartburn symptoms, and will last for a longer period of time.

If you have experienced frequent heartburn that has caused damage to your esophagus, another OTC heartburn medicine that you can try is a proton pump inhibitor, like Prilosec. This is another prescription heartburn medicine that is now available in OTC strength. This medication actually blocks the production of acid, in order to allow your esophagus time to heal from the damage that has been done. If you think that you need this type of heartburn medicine, it is a good idea to talk to your doctor first to determine the extent of damage to your esophagus.

Heartburn can be an uncomfortable condition to deal with, particularly if you experience the symptoms on a frequent basis. The good news is that there are plenty of good OTC heartburn medicines that can effectively treat your symptoms and allow you to enjoy more pain-free days and nights.