Medication for acid reflux: keeping Heartburn at Bay

In a normal digestive process, partially digested food was transmitted by the muscular movements of the stomach to the intestines. However, for some people, the stomach contents of return trip to the esophagus from the stomach. This condition is known as acid reflux.

Common symptoms of this disease include heartburn, difficulty swallowing, regurgitation, chest pains, dental erosion, hoarseness, asthma, dyspepsia, vomiting, and many others.

If not properly treated, acid reflux can last several months. However, the drug could play an essential part in the process of treating a patient.

The most common drugs used are as follows:

Antacids. These medications are used to neutralize the acid in the digestive tract and are mostly taken for the relief of mild symptoms, such as occasional episodes of indigestion and heartburn. They also act to incite the defense mechanisms of our stomach for the creation of the secretion of mucous and bicarbonate. Most antacids can be purchased at the counter, even without a prescription. In addition, these drugs are among the first to be recommended by professionals to lessen the pain caused by heartburn or mild symptoms. The three basic ingredients are antacids magnesium, calcium and aluminum.

Acid suppressants, such as histamine blockers are also commonly used. Histamine blockers block the production of stomach acids by alienating the actions of histamine. Histamine is a chemical in the body which promotes the production and secretion of acid in the stomach. Antihistamines are available without a prescription and offers relief of symptoms in most patients with frequency of acid reflux. Patients have to wait 30 to 90 minutes of these drugs take effect. But also its effects last for six to 24 hours. In cases of severe symptoms, a patient may have to take two doses a day. In some investigations, histamine blockers have been shown to improve the symptoms of asthma in which both suffer from acid reflux and asthma.

However, in a 2001 study, it was suggested that the histamine blockers sometimes give complete relief of symptoms of dyspepsia and heartburn.

Inhibitors Proton pump are also used as a medicine. They act to cut production by the stomach acids react with the cells are found in the wall of the stomach that produce and release acids in the stomach. However, investigations have revealed that the use of inhibitors of proton pump raises some concerns. Side effects, although uncommon, include diarrhea, headache, nausea and itching. In addition, these drugs should also fell out of pregnant women and nursing mothers.

Another drug that is handled in general is the use of agents that protect the lining of mucus in the gastrointestinal region. This type of drug acts linked to a crater of the ulcer so that it will be monitored for damage caused by digestive acids. It is advisable for people undergoing maintenance therapy with mild or moderate conditions of acid reflux. It also has minor side effects, including constipation.

Anti-spasm drugs are also used to prevent acid and even non-acid reflux. A gamma-amino butyric acid agonist, a spasm of anti-drug is generally used to reduce the spasms in the muscles. Unlike most drugs used for acid reflux, also can not reduce acid reflux and expand the pressure in the lower esophageal sphincter, a muscle that separates the esophagus from the stomach and prevents backups of stomach contents.