What should you know about daily indigestion medicine?

Indigestion can feel like burning, fullness, early satiety, belching or discomfort in the upper abdomen. Acid reflux, gastritis, a hiatus hernia, peptic ulcer disease, gallstones or Helicobacter pylori infection can sometimes contribute, although symptoms alone cannot identify the cause. Some medicines, alcohol, smoking, rich meals and lying down soon after eating may aggravate symptoms. Daily use of an acid-suppressing or antacid product should match the label or a clinician’s plan because the right choice depends on the pattern and cause.

Record when symptoms occur, what you ate, your medicines and whether there is heartburn, vomiting or trouble swallowing. Try smaller meals, eat slowly, stay upright after eating and limit foods or drinks that clearly trigger symptoms. Do not stop a prescribed medicine without advice, and check before adding products if you take regular medicines, are pregnant or have a long-term illness. Arrange a primary-care review if symptoms recur daily, return when medicine wears off or require frequent non-prescription doses. Your clinician may review the abdomen, medicines and need for testing.

Seek urgent medical help for severe or rapidly worsening abdominal pain, vomiting blood, black stools, fainting, chest pressure, breathlessness or difficulty swallowing. Arrange prompt assessment for repeated vomiting, unexplained weight loss, yellowing of the skin or eyes, anaemia symptoms or a new persistent change in digestion. These features do not prove a serious condition, but they should not be managed by simply increasing indigestion medicine.

Ask: What could be driving my daily symptoms? How long should I use this medicine? Do my other medicines worsen indigestion? Do I need testing for Helicobacter pylori or another cause? What symptoms should prompt urgent help?