Medicine to reduce acidity

Antacids work on acid already in the stomach and may offer short-term relief. Alginates can create a barrier that reduces reflux after meals. Other medicines reduce acid release and may be used when symptoms recur or cause irritation.

Acidity can be felt as burning behind the breastbone, a sour taste, upper abdominal discomfort, or throat irritation. Cough and sleep disturbance may accompany reflux, but chest tightness or abdominal pain can have other causes.

Follow the label or prescription, including whether the medicine belongs before food, after food, or at bedtime. Keep antacids apart from medicines that require careful absorption. Tell a pharmacist about kidney disease, pregnancy, allergies, and regular treatment.

Stay upright after meals, avoid eating close to bedtime, and notice which foods or drinks trigger symptoms for you. Do not keep self-treating frequent symptoms without a review, and do not change long-term prescribed treatment without advice.

Seek urgent help for chest tightness with sweating, breathlessness, faintness, or pain spreading to the arm or jaw. Prompt assessment is needed for black stools, vomiting blood, food sticking, painful swallowing, repeated vomiting, or unexplained weight loss. Arrange review when symptoms continue despite treatment.

Which acid-reducing option matches my symptoms? How long should I use it? Could reflux, a hiatus hernia, or another medicine be involved? Which warning symptoms mean I should stop self-treatment and seek help?