Health Mart pharmacist Christine Jacobson walks down the drug store aisle and talks about four major types of antacid and what you should know about each.
The conditions that require using an antacid include heartburn, stomach upset, dyspepsia (upper stomach upset). Here are four groups of antacids and what they do:
1) Traditional Antacids: Tums, Rolaids, Maalox
i. Use calcium carbonate or aluminum hydroxide
ii. Works just like adding baking soda to vinegar (alkaline antacid neutralizes strong stomach acid
iii. Releases carbon dioxide, causes you to burp
iv. Take when you have occasional heartburn (they act quickly and for a short time)
2) Bismuth Subsalicylates: Pepto Bismol, Kaeopectate (used for over 100 years)
i. Helps buffer stomach acids
ii. Coats surfaces inside stomach
iii. Anti-inflammatory
iv. May kill some bacteria
v. Good for relief of heartburn and controls peptic ulcer symptoms
vi. May have adverse reactions with some drugs, check with physician
3) H2 Blockers: Pepcid AC , Zantac 75
i. Takes longer to work, over an hour
ii. Talk to doctor if using more than two weeks
iii. Blocks histamine that signals body to make more acid
iv. Should be taken by people who have GERG and have heartburn more than twice a week
v. Also for people with gastric reflux
vi. Talk to doctor if talking for long periods of time
4) Proton Pump Inhibitors: Prilosec
i. Take up to 5 days before they work
ii. Becoming more popular to manage gastric reflux systems
iii. Helps reduce acid production in stomach
iv. Prevent cells that produce stomach acid from secreting acid
v. May hinder calcium absorption
vi. Best for long-term management of acid reflux, peptic ulcers dyspepsia, stress gastritis
5) Other Options: Better diet, herbal
While it’s good to take medication when needed, you should understand how drugs work in your body and understand the risks and benefits.
Portions of this article from Jody Barnes at www.helium.com
To find the nearest Health Mart Pharmacy to you, go to www.healthmart.com
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