Drugs for heartburn actually have one main task - to alleviate the discomfort of a painful burning sensation, usually described by patients as "burning in the esophagus". What are the types of heartburn medication? How do they work? Do they have side effects? What are the contraindications for taking heartburn medications?

Medicines for heartburnare one of the most frequently bought drugs in pharmacies. Some of them are available over the counter. It is worth reaching for them if we are sure that heartburn is not caused by a serious illness, i.e. if we have been examined by a doctor.

Medicines for heartburn - do you need them?

The cause of heartburn is when stomach acid flows back into your esophagus. The symptoms are most often felt in the center of the chest and in the upper abdomen. It sometimes happens, however, that this pain even radiates to the neck, throat, larynx, jaw, and even the sides of the chest, which is why it is sometimes confused with heart pain.

Who is the most likely to complain of heartburn? Well, they are:

  • patients with gastric ulcer disease
  • pregnant women
  • people struggling with neurosis, leading a stressful lifestyle
  • indigestion patients
  • and people who take long-term medications, e.g. non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, especially when they are taken on an empty stomach

Heartburn is not always felt with the same intensity. There are factors that may increase this discomfort, including:

  • nervous tension, especially if it lasts for a long time
  • abuse of alcohol, coffee, hot spices
  • smoking

If you have heartburn for a long time, you should visit your doctor and undergo a comprehensive examination. Check that heartburn is not a symptom of another, possibly serious, medical condition.

Fortunately, you don't have to get used to heartburn and there's nothing you can do about it. There are certain habits and habits that can reduce or at least ease your risk of heartburn.

These include:

  • a balanced and varied diet
  • taking preparations that facilitate digestion (e.g. herbs such as marshmallow, St. John's wort)
  • limiting fats and carbonated drinks in the diet, as well as any highly processed products
  • avoiding such products as, for example: garlic, citrus,chocolate, coffee (they irritate the gastric mucosa)
  • eat meals regularly, the ideal is 4-5 small meals a day (7-9 for pregnant women)
  • avoiding eating right before exercise or before going to bed
  • limiting the intake of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (especially on an empty stomach), which unfortunately irritate the gastric mucosa

Medicines for heartburn - types

Medicines for heartburn to reduce distressing symptoms can be classified as follows:

  • antacids for heartburn - neutralizing stomach acid, such as: calcium, magnesium and aluminum s alts

Antacids contain alkaline chemicals designed to neutralize the acid content of the stomach. These drugs work very quickly, eliminating unpleasant symptoms, but unfortunately their effect wears off after about three hours, which means that some patients will have to take them after each, especially a hard-to-digest, meal.

It should be remembered that these preparations do not cure the disease and do not prevent the recurrence of symptoms related to gastroesophageal reflux. They should be used only temporarily.

Although these drugs are considered safe by doctors, it should be remembered that, like all drugs, they can cause unpleasant side effects and interact with other drugs, if only because they change the absorption rate of other drugs. Therefore, it is important that other medications, or even dietary supplements, be taken 1-2 hours before or after taking your heartburn medication.

  • histamine receptor inhibitors, such as ranitidine

Also drugs from this group are designed to reduce the secretion of gastric acid, and thus relieve the feeling of burning and burning in the esophagus. However, they work much stronger and longer than antacids. Studies show that their effect lasts for about 12 hours. They can be used when ailments occur sporadically, and their main reason is simply dietary mistakes.

It should be remembered that ranitidine should not be used for more than two weeks - if after this time the symptoms of heartburn do not improve or worsen, consult a doctor and conduct a full diagnosis.

  • proton pump inhibitors - these include: omeprazole, pantoprazole, esomeprazole and lansopranol

Proton pump inhibitors inhibit the production of hydrochloric acid by the proton pump, which is found in the parietal cells of the gastric mucosa. Thanks to this, drugs from the group of pump inhibitorsproton have the greatest effect on the stomach. They work up to 24 hours, so you can take them once a day (preferably in the morning - approx. 30 minutes before a meal).

Thanks to them, not only do reflux symptoms subside, but also accelerate the healing of the irritated mucosa of the esophagus. These drugs also help prevent reflux from returning. Therefore, in the case of recurrent and particularly severe heartburn, proton pump inhibitors should be used. To obtain the desired therapeutic effect, they should be taken (depending on the need) from a few to several days. Omeprazole and pantoprazole are also available over the counter.

Drugs for heartburn - famotidine

Famotidine is a substance that inhibits the secretion of hydrochloric acid by blocking the histamine receptors in the parietal cells of the stomach. It is mainly used in the treatment of gastric and duodenal ulcers. It also reduces the volume of gastric juice and pepsin content.

Like all drugs, famotidine can cause some unpleasant side effects. These include:

  • headaches
  • dizziness
  • constipation or vice versa - diarrhea
  • nausea, vomiting, sometimes decreased appetite
  • painful gas
  • increase in liver enzymes
  • jaundice
  • joint pain

When taking famotidine, remember that this substance may affect the absorption of other drugs. Decrease the absorption of e.g. ketoconazole and other drugs whose absorption depends on the acidity of the gastric juice (e.g. gastro-resistant tablets). Therefore, in order to maintain the effectiveness of therapy with other drugs, it is best to keep the time interval between the preparations taken according to the manufacturer's instructions. If in doubt, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice.

Drugs for heartburn - ranitidine

Ranitidine is a specific competitive antagonist of the histamine receptor in the gastric mucosa. It inhibits the secretion of hydrochloric acid by the parietal cells, and to a lesser extent reduces the secretion of pepsin and gastric juice.

In the case of ranitidine, the inhibition of gastric acid secretion occurs both in the resting phase (which means that this drug works very well at night) and in the energized phase (i.e. during and after a meal). Therefore, it can be taken at any time of the day, regardless of the time of the meal.

Side effects of ranitidine:

  • headaches and dizziness, sometimes associated with visual disturbances
  • sleepiness or sleep disturbances
  • heart rhythm disturbance
  • nausea, vomiting
  • constipation oron the contrary - diarrhea
  • increase in liver enzymes

Drugs for heartburn - pantoprazole

Pantoprazole is a proton pump inhibitor. It works by inhibiting the proton pump in the parietal cells of the stomach, and thus reducing the secretion of hydrochloric acid in the stomach.

Proton pump inhibitors are so-called prodrugs (pharmacologically inactive substances). This means that they are only activated in an acidic environment.

Reduced secretion of hydrochloric acid caused by taking the preparation, not only alleviates the symptoms of reflux, but also allows the healing of changes related to damage to the gastric mucosa, duodenum or esophagus, and thus, very importantly, reduces the likelihood of recurrence of heartburn.

The indications for the use of the drug are:

  • treatment of gastric and duodenal ulcers, also in the course of infectionHelicobacter pylori
  • gastro-oesophageal reflux disease and prevention of its recurrence
  • treatment of Zollinger-Ellison syndrome
  • prevention of gastric and duodenal ulceration caused by the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, especially in those at risk of requiring long-term use of these drugs

Pantoprazole is quickly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. After oral administration, the maximum concentration is reached about 2-2.5 hours after taking the drug.

Drugs for heartburn - omeprazole

Omeprazole is also a proton pump inhibitor and works in the same way as pantoprazole.

The indications for the use of the drug are:

  • treatment of duodenal and stomach ulcer
  • reflux oesophagitis
  • prophylaxis of aspiration pneumonia
  • indigestion symptoms related to gastric acidity

Omeprazole is rapidly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. After oral administration, the maximum concentration is reached approx. 1-3 hours after taking the drug.

Side effects:

  • headaches and dizziness
  • diarrhea or constipation
  • stomach pains
  • nausea, vomiting
  • flatulence

What about heartburn in pregnancy?

Pregnant women are a significant group of patients complaining of heartburn. In expectant mothers, heartburn is mainly caused by physiological changes. In pregnant women, the concentration of progesterone increases, which causes the esophageal sphincter to relax. In addition, the growing child puts pressure on internal organs, incl. the stomach and thus the reflux of food contents back into the esophagus, making it uncomfortablesymptoms.

In this case, you can use herbs that protect the gastric mucosa - linseed, marshmallow and marjoram. Chamomile and fennel will also be helpful, as well as almonds, which are alkaline and thus neutralize the hydrochloric acid in the stomach. Alkaline cocktails work in a similar way - i.e. beets, carrots or cucumbers. Ginger is also a good idea as it absorbs acids and soothes their irritating effects on the esophageal walls. Ginger can also help with nausea.

You can use antacids from ready-made medications. When taking drugs from other groups, consult your doctor.

Worth knowing

When a patient does not want to use chemical preparations available at the pharmacy, he may try to deal with heartburn using home remedies. These include:

  • changing improper eating habits, such a diet should consist in avoiding fried, fatty, spicy foods, sweets and highly processed foods
  • restriction of stimulants such as coffee, black tea, alcohol and cigarettes
  • eating meals regularly, not in a hurry
  • not eating before going to bed or before exercise
  • use of herbal teas - herbs useful for heartburn are: fennel, chamomile or lemon balm

However, it should be remembered that when the above methods do not help or even worsen - it is absolutely necessary to see a doctor for tests. Untreated reflux can lead to esophagitis or erosions in the digestive tract.

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