Medicine for stomach acid pain

Acid can irritate the lining of the stomach or move upward into the oesophagus, causing burning discomfort, sour fluid, belching or pain after meals. Acid reflux is a common presentation of burning behind the breastbone or upper abdominal discomfort, but stomach pain can also occur with gastritis, gallstones, food poisoning, gastroenteritis, coeliac disease, Crohn's disease or diverticular disease. The pattern, location and associated symptoms help separate these causes.

An antacid can neutralise acid for short-term relief. Other medicines reduce acid production and may be chosen when symptoms recur. Some products interact with prescription medicines or are unsuitable with kidney disease, pregnancy or certain long-term conditions, so check with a pharmacist or doctor.

Read the label and use one product as directed rather than combining several acid remedies without advice. Leave the advised gap between an antacid and medicines that it may affect. Keep a note of when pain occurs, what you ate, and whether lying down makes it worse. Smaller meals, avoiding personal triggers, limiting alcohol, stopping smoking and staying upright after eating may reduce reflux symptoms. Avoid taking anti-inflammatory painkillers for stomach pain unless a clinician has advised you, because they can irritate the stomach lining.

If symptoms continue despite a short course of pharmacy treatment, arrange a review. You may need an examination, medication review or assessment for another digestive condition rather than stronger self-treatment.

Get urgent medical help for sudden or severe pain, vomiting blood, black or tarry stools, fainting, chest pressure, difficulty swallowing, yellowing of the skin, or a hard and swollen abdomen. Seek prompt advice for repeated vomiting, dehydration, fever with worsening pain, unexplained weight loss, or pain that keeps returning. These features can indicate bleeding, obstruction, infection or another problem that acid medicine cannot treat.

Ask whether your symptoms fit acid reflux, gastritis or another cause; which treatment suits your other medicines; and how long you should try it. Tell the clinician about pain location, meal timing, bowel changes, vomiting, swallowing symptoms and any use of anti-inflammatory painkillers.