Have you ever experienced the painful, burning sensation of heartburn? If you have, then you know all too well how important it is to find relief from those uncomfortable symptoms as quickly and effectively as possible. Fortunately, there are a number of good heartburn medicines on the market today that are happy to oblige. Whether you need fast relief from symptoms that have already started, or you are looking for a way to prevent heartburn before it begins, there is undoubtedly a heartburn medicine that will meet your needs.
Finding Relief over the Counter
The first place that you should begin hunting for your heartburn medicine is at your local grocery store or pharmacy. There are plenty of good over the counter heartburn medicines available today that can meet the needs of the majority of heartburn sufferers. Antacids are one of the most popular heartburn remedies, and there are a variety of these to choose from. Antacids work by neutralizing the acid in the stomach and thereby relieving the burning sensation that occurs with heartburn. It is generally a quick and effective way to relieve heartburn symptoms that are already occurring.
Another good option in over the counter heartburn medicine is the H-2-receptor blockers, which are better known under the commercial names like Zantac, Pepcid and Tagamet. These heartburn medicines work by reducing the amount of acid that the stomach produces. With less acid, there is a lower chance that it will back up into the esophagus and cause heartburn symptoms. These medications work best if they are taken prior to eating a meal, because they take about 30 minutes to take effect. However, you can also take them after a meal, in tandem with an antacid. The antacid will bring quick relief, while the H-2-receptor blocker will keep that relief going over the long term.
What Your Doctor can do
If over the counter heartburn medicines do not bring about the sufficient relief that you desire, you can also talk to your doctor about your choices in prescription medications. There are prescription-strength H-2-receptors that pack a more potent punch of heartburn remedy, as well as medications that are called proton pump inhibitors. Although these heartburn medicines are now available over the counter as well, under names like Prilosec, these are generally used for frequent heartburn problems that you should be discussing with your doctor. Proton pump inhibitors actually block acid production, allowing damage that has been done to the esophagus by stomach acids time to heal. If you suffer from frequent or severe heartburn symptoms, talk to your doctor about the heartburn medicines that might work for you.
