Acid Reflux Medications

What You Should Know About Acid Reflux Medications

From simple over-the-counter antacids to those that require medical prescriptions, there is a variety of acid reflux medications available today for treating acid reflux and alleviate its symptoms. If you’re considering treating acid reflux, here is a list of available acid reflux medications to guide you:

Antacids

Therapy with acid reflux medications usually start with antacids. Generally available without prescription as over-the-counter drugs, antacids are commonly used to provide prompt relief from acid reflux and heartburn and takes effect usually within 30 minutes after consumption.

Antacids work in two ways. First, it neutralizes gastric acid secretions in the stomach to relieve patients of heartburn and facilitate digestion. And second, it forms a protective layer in the esophagus and the stomach that soothes the mucosal lining and prevents irritation and further damage. However, although antacids are effective acid reflux medications, patients should take care not to consume too much because of possible side effects like diarrhea, constipation, an increased risk for kidney stones, and even osteoporosis.

Histamine Receptor Antagonists

Doctors can also prescribe the use of histamine receptor antagonists that work by blocking the H₂- receptor sites in stomach cells, which inhibits the production of histamine – a naturally produced chemical in the body that generates gastric acids. By inhibiting its production, histamine receptor antagonists decrease gastric acid secretions, preventing acid reflux and heartburn in patients.

Although using histamine receptor antagonists do not lead to serious side effects, overuse can still cause diarrhea, dizziness, tiredness, and in some cases hair loss and excessive sweating. Furthermore, since acid reflux medications like histamine receptor antagonists directly affect the body’s ability to produce acids, patients should take caution by regulating its consumption since the body still needs a good amount of gastric acids to aid in digestion.

Cholinergic Drugs

In more severe cases, acid reflux medications like cholinergic drugs can be prescribed by doctors to help increase the pressure in the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) and inhibit food and gastric contents to backflow up into the esophagus. The LES is a muscular valve that separates stomach contents from the esophagus. By strengthening the LES, food and other gastric contents can be blocked from going back up into the esophagus, thereby preventing heartburn and acid reflux.

Cholinergic drugs, however, must only be taken with other acid reflux medications like antacids or histamine receptor antagonists. Since it increases saliva and stomach acid secretion, patients suffering from aid reflux must either neutralize excess gastric acids with an antacid or inhibit it with acid blockers.

Gastrointestinal Stimulants

Gastrointestinal stimulants, also known as promotility agents, are acid reflux medications that combine the properties of an antiemetic and cholinergic drug. They work in two ways. First, it strengthens the pressure in the LES to prevent gastric contents from back-flowing into the esophagus by stimulating the smooth muscle in the gastrointestinal tract. And second, it increases the rate of gastric emptying to reduce the amount of food in the stomach and decrease the probability of reflux, thereby eliminating the potential damage gastric acids can inflict on the esophagus.

Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs)

Proton pump inhibitors are a group of acid reflux medications that work by suppressing the production of gastric acids by up to 99%, thereby allowing the damage caused by acid reflux to heal faster since there are fewer acids to irritate the stomach and esophagus tissues.

Available in over-the-counter and prescription forms, although these acid reflux medications are considered safe for long term use with minimal side effects, using proton pump inhibitors should be consulted with a physician since there are different prescriptions available with varying degrees of strength and side effects.

Thus, with the number of acid reflux medications available, each with its own set of side effects, patients suffering from acid reflux should take the necessary precautions and always consult their doctors before taking medication, even if the drug is available over-the-counter. This will not only help in making sure that the medications you’re taking are safe, but it can also eliminate other problems related to acid reflux medications like drug interactions and long-term side effects.

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