Heartburn remedy medicine

Antacids work by neutralising acid already in the stomach and may provide relatively quick, short-term relief. Alginates can form a floating barrier that reduces reflux after meals. Acid-reducing medicines lower acid production and may be used when symptoms are recurrent, but they are not interchangeable and may not suit everyone. Heartburn can accompany acid reflux; ongoing discomfort may need assessment for gastritis, a hiatus hernia, or a peptic ulcer.

Read the label and follow the recommended dose and timing. Some antacids can interfere with absorption of other medicines, so ask a pharmacist how to space them from regular prescriptions and supplements. Combine medicine with smaller meals, avoiding personal trigger foods, remaining upright after eating, and avoiding late meals. Do not keep self-treating recurring symptoms indefinitely. A clinician can decide whether a different medicine, a review of your medicines, or testing is appropriate.

Book an appointment if heartburn is frequent, worsening, returns when medicine is stopped, or affects sleep or eating. Seek urgent care for chest pressure or severe chest pain, breathlessness, fainting, vomiting blood, black stools, persistent vomiting, unexplained weight loss, or food sticking when you swallow. These features can signal a problem that needs prompt assessment rather than another dose of a remedy.

Ask which medicine matches your symptom pattern, how long to try it, whether it interacts with your current treatments, and what plan to follow if relief is incomplete.