How to get rid of high stomach acidity: drugs, traditional medicine, diet

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Phosphalugel

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Almagel A

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Gaviscon

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Everyone has experienced the unpleasant burning sensation and pain from heartburn at least once in their life. It can be caused by a number of reasons: stomach diseases, an individual reaction to certain foods, a consequence of poor diet, overeating, or as a side effect of medications. When choosing the best remedy for heartburn, you want to be sure that it will relieve symptoms as quickly as possible and be safe for the body as a whole. Which product should I choose? Let's take a closer look.

Rating of the best remedies for heartburn

conclusions

Antacid medications for heartburn help quickly eliminate the unpleasant symptom caused by poor diet, drinking large amounts of coffee and strong tea, bad habits (nicotine and alcohol contribute to the development of heartburn), and taking certain medications. But if unpleasant sensations occur frequently, do not go away after adjusting your diet and lifestyle, and are accompanied by weight loss, weakness, difficulty swallowing food and other symptoms, you should consult a doctor. The specialist will make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe comprehensive treatment, including antacids, antisecretory agents and other drugs as indicated.

The best absorbable antacids for heartburn

All absorbable drugs cope with the task quite quickly, and therefore are very popular, their effect is noticeable in just a few seconds. But they all produce fairly large amounts of carbon dioxide, and this can cause other unpleasant symptoms such as belching, bloating, and a feeling of heaviness in the stomach. Components that are absorbed into the systemic circulation may cause various electrolyte disturbances, including changes in heart rate, and an increased risk of kidney stones. But these drugs are successfully used to relieve occasional heartburn in pregnant women, since the systemic effect of carbon dioxide is well known, but the effects of aluminum salts (in non-absorbable antacids) on the body of pregnant women and on the fetus have not yet been sufficiently studied.

Baking soda

Rating: 4.5

To drink or not to drink soda? Is it possible or not? Rhetorical question: yes and no. Baking soda very quickly helps with heartburn, it is found in almost any home in the kitchen, and there is no need to run to the pharmacy, these facts will always overcome the fears of doctors who warn to use such a good remedy too often.

What's the problem? The fact is that baking soda forms a very large amount of carbon dioxide, and, trying to expand, it is able to push apart the muscular sphincters of the esophagus and stomach, and allow the leakage of gastric juice, neutralized by soda, into the duodenum and lower parts of the esophagus. Such regular weakening of the sphincters will soon contribute to the development of their insufficiency. In addition, a patient who takes soda constantly will soon be surprised to discover that he needs to take it more and more often, the dose of soda is regularly increased, and the light period without heartburn becomes shorter. Heartburn gradually becomes more persistent and annoying. This phenomenon is explained by the fact that after neutralization of hydrochloric acid, the stomach begins to produce it in increased quantities.

Advantages and disadvantages

This combination of advantages and disadvantages allows us to draw an important conclusion: baking soda can be used to relieve heartburn, but only in very rare cases, and for those people who do not have a diagnosis of acute or chronic gastritis, and peptic ulcer disease - half a teaspoon per glass of warm water. In other words, soda can be an “ambulance” remedy for an ordinary, healthy person who currently does not have the opportunity to purchase an antacid drug. Indications for use: discomfort and heartburn after a heavy meal or spicy food. In this case, soda, of course, will help, but after relief, you should forget about this type of treatment, and under no circumstances repeat taking soda. Under no circumstances should soda be taken by “stomach” patients who have simply run out of antacid medications prescribed by their doctor. You can easily make the disease worsen.

Rennie

Rating: 4.4

While baking soda is sodium bicarbonate, Rennie's chewable tablets are a mixture of two salts: calcium and magnesium carbonates. This medicine is indicated not only for healthy people with occasional heartburn, but also for patients who have been diagnosed with esophagitis, increased acidity of gastric juice, in the case of syndromic dyspepsia with pancreatitis, if the patient is taking other medications that cannot be canceled, but they cause heartburn.

This remedy is also indicated for sudden changes in diet, for example, when traveling to Southeast Asian countries with very spicy cuisine, or for patients who abuse alcohol. These tablets have a light cooling taste, and the salts they contain not only quickly neutralize excess hydrochloric acid, but also have a long-lasting effect. As a result of the work of this remedy, soluble calcium and magnesium salts appear in the stomach, which are absorbed into the blood, but do not significantly affect systemic metabolism.

You need to take Rennie by chewing it, or simply holding the tablets in your mouth and dissolving them. If heartburn occurs, you can take two tablets at once, and repeat no earlier than 2 hours later. The official instructions limit the maximum daily dosage of the drug to 11 tablets. This drug is produced by the German pharmaceutical concern Bayer, and you can purchase one package of 12 tablets for 138 rubles. The manufacturer offers a choice of mint or orange flavor.

Advantages and disadvantages

The most important advantage of the drug Rennie is its safe use in pregnant women without disruption of the gastrointestinal tract in the form of symptomatic therapy. Rennie is well tolerated, and overdose is possible only in patients with significant renal impairment. This medicine may also cause allergic reactions in very rare cases.

Vikair

Rating: 4.3

Vikair is an old, cheap, proven drug. Its composition is complex: in addition to sodium bicarbonate, it contains magnesium carbonate, bismuth compounds, calamus rhizome and buckthorn bark. The combined effect of these natural and chemical components is antacidic, astringent, antispasmodic and laxative.

Vikair is indicated for the treatment of gastric and duodenal ulcers, hyperacid gastritis, or gastritis with high acidity of the stomach. Since heartburn often occurs with hyperacid gastritis, this drug can be recommended for all forms of heartburn. The tablets are taken an hour after meals, three times a day; you can take two tablets at once with a small amount of water. The difference between Vikair and Rennie is that it is recommended to take it in a course for one month, and one-time use is not recommended. Vikair is produced by the domestic Irbit chemical pharmaceutical plant, and you can purchase a minimum package of 10 tablets, designed for 3 days of use, for 18 rubles.

Advantages and disadvantages

The advantage of the drug can be considered its availability and low cost. Disadvantages include slow action, mandatory restrictions on use in patients with concomitant inflammatory bowel diseases and gallbladder. Vikair has the peculiarity of turning stool black, but this symptom goes away after stopping taking the drug. Also, some patients do not tolerate bismuth compounds well and may experience heaviness in the stomach.

Effects of medications on increased acidity

To quickly cope with the problem and prevent negative effects on the mucous membrane of the organ, special medications are used. Only the doctor selects them based on the patient’s condition.

Drugs that reduce stomach acidity have several effects in the form of:

• slowing down the functioning of sections in the digestive tract in which hydrochloric acid is produced;
• an increase in the amount of mucus secreted in the stomach;
• binding of hydrochloric acid components contained in gastric juice.

The main goal is to prevent injury to the walls of the gastrointestinal tract. Each category of medications has a specific spectrum of effects. Therefore, only a gastroenterologist should prescribe them. You need to see a doctor when you begin to experience pain in the abdomen, burning and itching in the esophagus.

The best non-absorbable antacids for heartburn

These heartburn remedies are new generation drugs. They do not penetrate the systemic bloodstream, after their use the stomach does not tend to produce an increased amount of gastric juice, they protect the mucous membrane well, and as a result of neutralization of hydrochloric acid, insoluble salts are obtained that calmly pass through the entire gastrointestinal tract and are excreted in feces. Let's consider the most effective means that occupy first place in the sales ranking in the Russian Federation.

Phosphalugel

Rating: 4.9

The most famous drug for heartburn, which is sold in sachets, is Phosphalugel. It is an aluminum phosphate. After opening the bag, you can see a white gel, a little like sour cream. To make it more pleasant to swallow, manufacturers made it sweet by adding sorbitol, as well as the smell and taste of orange.

Aluminum phosphate envelops, adsorbs the acid and neutralizes it. This drug can reduce the activity of the main gastric enzyme - pepsin. Phosphalugel does not convert the acidity of gastric juice to the alkaline side, and leaves it at a physiological level. It forms a thin protective layer on the gastric mucosa, which after a single use lasts for several hours. In addition, Phosphalugel is able to neutralize toxins, various microbes and gases throughout the intestines, and normalizes the passage of food through it.

Phosphalugel, in addition to heartburn, gastritis, reflux and peptic ulcers, is also indicated in complex therapy for various food poisoning, alcohol intoxication, diarrhea, and reactions of the gastrointestinal tract to medications. Phosphalugel is used internally, it can be used in its pure form, or it can be diluted with water.

Adults and children over 6 years old can be given one or two sachets three times a day. There are different dosage regimens, which depend on the diagnosis.

The manufacturer of Phosphalugel is the pharmaceutical company Astellas Pharma, the Netherlands. Phosphalugel in the amount of 6 sachets will cost 150 rubles, which cannot be considered too cheap.

Advantages and disadvantages

A positive quality of Phosphalugel can be considered its ability to be used even in children under six months of age, the virtual absence of side effects, and the possibility of using it during pregnancy and lactation. A negative point should be considered the possibility of complications in patients with severe kidney pathology, liver cirrhosis, and chronic constipation.

Gaviscon

Rating: 4.8

The drug Gaviscon is available not only in tablets, but also in the form of a suspension for oral administration. This is a combination heartburn medicine that consists of sodium bicarbonate, calcium carbonate, and sodium alginate, a seaweed derivative.

Gaviscon, unlike other drugs, after reacting with hydrochloric acid of gastric juice, forms a gel that has an almost neutral reaction. This gel envelops the gastric mucosa, forming a protective barrier. As a result, the activity of the protective environment is maintained for up to 4 hours. After taking the drug, relief from heartburn is felt within 3 to 5 minutes.

Of the indications, special mention should be made of gastroesophageal reflux, or the reflux of gastric contents into the esophagus as a result of sphincter weakness. Even if gastric juice gets back into the esophagus, the gel formed by Gaviscon forestalls the reflux of gastric juice and protects the mucous membrane of the distal esophagus.

Gaviscon chewable tablets should be taken by chewing them thoroughly, not exceeding 4 tablets at a time, and the number of doses per day should not exceed 4.

Gaviscon is manufactured by the English company Reckitt Benckiser Healthcare. In domestic pharmacies, chewable tablets in the amount of 12 pieces can be purchased for 125 rubles, and 150 ml of suspension will cost 180 rubles. per bottle.

Advantages and disadvantages

The advantages of Gaviscon include its low price, release in 2 forms, and the suspension acts faster, rare development of side effects, as well as the ability to use it during pregnancy and breastfeeding. But at the same time, Gaviscon is contraindicated in children under 12 years of age, in patients with phenylketonuria, in people who are on a salt-free diet with impaired renal function.

Maalox (Gastratcid)

Rating: 4.7

An extremely popular remedy for heartburn in Russia, and throughout the world, is Maalox. It is a gel of inorganic compounds of aluminum and magnesium in the form of hydroxide, with the presence of auxiliary substances. In bags, it looks like a white suspension, reminiscent of very liquid sour cream with a slight mint smell. Maalox, in addition to the suspension, is available in chewable tablets, and for diabetics it is available in the form of sugar-free tablets.

Maalox calmly neutralizes the increased acidity of gastric juice, and does not lead to a secondary increase, or hyperproduction of hydrochloric acid. It envelops the mucous membrane and has an absorbent effect. It works only locally, it is not absorbed from the stomach, and has no systemic effect. Maalox is indicated for heartburn due to various reasons, for peptic ulcers, for gastritis and gastroduodenitis, for hiatal hernia, for errors in diet, for the side effects of certain medications (especially often - NSAIDs and hormones). Maalox should be used in the form of a suspension, one tablespoon 3-4 times a day, including at night. One sachet contains 15 ml of medicine, one tablespoon. The maximum permissible daily dose is 6 tablespoons, which is equal to 6 sachets.

Maalox is produced by the famous pharmaceutical company Sanofi-Aventis, at factories in France and Italy. A package of 20 chewable tablets can be purchased for 220 rubles, one bottle of suspension with a volume of 250 ml can be purchased for 300 rubles, and a package of 20 tablets for diabetics can be purchased for 200 rubles.

Advantages and disadvantages

This remedy is perfect as an “ambulance” for acute heartburn, and is available in different forms, which makes it easier to take. One sachet is equal to one tablespoon, which equalizes and simplifies dosage when switching from one form to another. However, Maalox is contraindicated in children and adolescents, including those aged fifteen years, in patients with fructose intolerance and severe renal failure. The product can also cause constipation, especially in elderly patients, due to aluminum hydroxide.

Almagel A

Rating: 4.6

The drug Maalox described above has many synonyms, for example, Almagel. This is the same Maalox, and it contains the same components. But if you add benzocaine, which is a fairly effective local anesthetic, to Maalox, then a well-known medicine for heartburn and gastritis will appear - Almagel A (anesthetic). Its mechanism of action is the same as that of Maalox, it suppresses the secretion of pepsin, weakens the effect of hydrochloric acid, and benzocaine helps very well if, in addition to heartburn, the patient also has stomach pain. And it is this remedy that can be recommended as the most effective when heartburn is combined with epigastric pain. It eliminates pain and burning sensation in a matter of minutes. Of course, benzocaine does not precipitate in the form of insoluble salts and is absorbed, but this amount is so minimal that there is no effect on the body.

The indications for the use of this drug are more extensive: in addition to peptic ulcers, acute and chronic gastritis, it is indicated for enteritis and colitis, for intestinal digestive disorders, for postoperative pain when gastric surgery has been performed. Almagel A protects the mucous membrane well and reduces pain in patients with erosive and ulcerative processes associated with long-term use of corticosteroid hormones.

Almagel is used orally, 1 - 2 spoons 3-4 times a day. Considering that the patient often has an acute state of inflammation of the mucous membrane, Almagel A is recommended to be taken before meals, 10-15 minutes. After the patient has drunk the required dose of the medicine, it is recommended to lie down for a while and turn from side to side, so that the suspension is distributed as best as possible throughout the gastric mucosa. It is surprising that this recommendation is found only in the instructions for Almagel A, although this advice would be quite natural to give to all products that are produced in the form of a suspension or in the form of sachets. Almagel A is produced by the pharmaceutical company Balkanfarma, and a 170 ml bottle of suspension can be purchased for 190 rubles.

Advantages and disadvantages

The undeniable advantage of Almagel A is the presence of a local anesthetic, which allows you to significantly expand the indications for use. But at the same time, benzocaine can begin to influence the receptors of the oral mucosa; the side effect is a change in taste sensations and slight numbness of the mucous membrane. There are contraindications for use during pregnancy and breastfeeding, in children, and in case of renal failure. In case of long-term therapy, it is necessary to introduce foods rich in phosphorus into the diet, especially in old age, to prevent osteoporosis. Also, many will not like the fact that during treatment with Almagel A it is necessary to completely abstain from alcohol.

Antareit

Rating: 4.5

Antareit chewable tablets contain 400 mg magaldrate and 20 mg simethicone. This is an antacid drug, the additional function of which is to reduce bloating, or reduce flatulence. Magaldrate is the abbreviated name for hydroxide - magnesium and aluminum sulfate. It has an acid-binding effect, reduces the activity of gastric enzymes, envelops and absorbs. Simethicone destroys small gas bubbles that form in the stomach and intestines. In this case, the gas does not accumulate in a free state, but is absorbed by the intestinal cells, or removed outside without accumulation. Simethicone is an inert substance that simply destroys foam, and at the same time acts according to the laws of physics, without entering into any chemical reactions.

Antareit is indicated, in addition to heartburn, for pain and sour belching, for bloating and other functional conditions. Take 1 to 2 tablets 10 minutes after meals, chew thoroughly, or dissolve the tablet in your mouth. Antareit is produced by the Indian company Sequel Pharmaceutical, and one package of 24 chewable tablets can be purchased for 240 rubles, so one tablet will cost 10 rubles.

Advantages and disadvantages

Despite the good carminative effect, this remedy is contraindicated in children under 12 years of age, and during treatment it is necessary to ensure the intake of phosphorus from food. It contains sorbitol, which means it is contraindicated in cases of congenital fructose intolerance. At high doses and with prolonged use, symptoms of metabolic alkalosis may appear. This is numbness in the muscles, nervousness, paresthesia. But this remedy can be used during breastfeeding, and if heartburn is combined with bloating, then you should initially pay attention to Antareit.

General recommendations

How to get rid of heartburn?

In the case when a burning sensation appears in the esophagus, only a qualified specialist will be able to suggest which tablets can eliminate heartburn in a particular patient.

This safe effect of these drugs is due to the fact that instead of unsafe sodium bicarbonate, they contain substances such as bismuth, aluminum and magnesium. Due to them, modern drugs for heartburn (Gelusil Lac and Gastal) have a pronounced effect on the patient taking them.

Antisecretory drugs are considered the best medicines for such an unpleasant phenomenon as a feeling of pronounced burning behind the sternum. The following factors are considered their advantage:

• they not only neutralize increased acidity at this particular moment, but help reduce its production;
• compared to other drugs that have the same effect, they are safer;
• When taken regularly, they can completely prevent the appearance of negative symptoms.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=hCetbg8xvxw

Antacids also have their advantages. The main ones are efficiency, quick action and accessibility. Although these drugs have significantly fewer advantages than antisecretory drugs, it is precisely because of them that patients who suffer from frequent heartburn buy them. But the disadvantages of antacids are the following:

• the positive effect of taking them is quite short-lived;
• in most cases multiple side effects occur;
• These medications can only eliminate negative symptoms, and their effect does not extend to the causes that provoked them.

Finding an effective drug to relieve heartburn is not always easy. Most often, a patient with this problem has to try on himself a fairly large number of medications in order to choose the most suitable one.

The best antisecretory drugs for heartburn

In addition to mechanical binding of hydrochloric acid or neutralization, there are many drugs that reduce its secretion. They are called antisecretory, and are divided into two large groups. The first group includes proton pump inhibitors, or proton pump, and the second group includes histamine receptor blockers (H2)

Proton pump inhibitors are effective and modern agents that reduce gastric acidity. The mechanism of action of these drugs is carried out through blocking a special enzyme - hydrogen-potassium ATPase. It produces hydrochloric acid by multiplying hydrogen ions and combining them with chlorine ions.

As for H2 - histamine receptor blockers, these drugs block the receptors of the gastric mucosa, which are located on parietal or parietal cells. As a result, the production of hydrochloric acid is reduced, and, consequently, the ulcer-forming effect. Let's consider the main drugs that are intended both for self-relief of heartburn and for the treatment of gastritis and peptic ulcers of the stomach and duodenum. These drugs are constantly being improved, so there are several generations of such drugs.

Omeprazole (Gastrozole, Omez, Ortanol, Ultop, Helicid)

Rating: 4.9

Omeprazole is one of the main antiulcer drugs, acid-reducing drugs, which are widely used in outpatient practice, is included in the list of vitally important drugs (VED list), and is given to patients in gastroenterology departments in hospitals. This remedy is used for ulcerative lesions of the gastrointestinal tract, for heartburn, for erosive and ulcerative processes, for stress ulcers, as well as for reflux esophagitis. The drug is used in the form of 20 mg capsules, 2 capsules per day in severe cases, usually one capsule. Omeprazole is produced by a number of domestic and foreign pharmaceutical companies, for example Sandoz, Stada, Akrikhin, Veropharm, Teva, Gedeon Richter. The cost of domestic omeprazole starts from 23 rubles. for 30 capsules of the drug, which makes it truly affordable and popular for the general public.

Advantages and disadvantages

Despite the fact that Omeprazole is not a drug of the latest generation, it has its advantages. He rarely experiences overdose symptoms such as agitation, headache, dry mouth. This drug can be used both during meals and between meals, this does not affect the effectiveness of treatment. However, omeprazole is contraindicated for use in children, pregnancy and lactation. One of the most important indications for the use of omeprazole is prophylactic treatment with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. So, if a patient has severe back pain and is prescribed meloxicam, nimesulide, or ibuprofen, and at the same time he has a gastric ulcer, then Omeprazole is prescribed along with anti-inflammatory drugs to prevent the induction of ulcers.

Pariet (Bereta, Noflux, Rabiet, Zulbex)

Rating: 4.8

Pariet is a next generation proton pump inhibitor containing rabeprazole. Available in tablets, 10 or 20 mg, in enteric form. Rabeprazole also suppresses sodium-potassium ATPase, and, unlike the previous drug, does not have anticholinergic properties, and therefore does not cause the side effects characteristic of omeprazole, that is, its safety spectrum is significantly improved. After taking 1 tablet, a significant reduction in heartburn is noted within 1 hour. In addition to the symptoms of reflux disease, heartburn and sour belching, this medicine is indicated for the complex treatment of all forms of gastric and duodenal ulcers, pathological hypersecretion, Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, and Helicobacter pylori infection. According to the standard treatment regimen, the medicine is used once a day, depending on the indications - either in a dosage of 10 mg or 20.

This drug is one of the most expensive in the ranking of heartburn medications. So, for 14 tablets with a dosage of 10 mg you should pay from 1200 rubles. This is an original drug that is produced by the Japanese company Ezai - under license from Janssen - Pharmaceuticals. However, there are also cheaper analogues. Thus, Beret tablets, which are produced by the domestic company Veropharm, are sold at a price of 500 rubles. for 14 tablets containing 20 mg of rabeprazole.

Advantages and disadvantages

The advantages of rabeprazole include the absence of side effects characteristic of omeprazole, the ability to use it in patients with impaired liver and kidney function without any dose adjustment, and the absence of overdose symptoms. This drug can be taken in the same dose as indicated in the instructions for the elderly, and for children starting from the age of 12 years. The only disadvantage of this remedy is its obvious high cost; it is not recommended to use it as monotherapy simply to relieve heartburn. Unlike Maalox, Almagel, Gaviscon and Rennie, a person will have to wait a whole hour until his heartburn goes away.

But, nevertheless, of all the proton pump inhibitors, Pariet acts the fastest. You just need to remember that these remedies are indicated for the treatment of diseases that cause heartburn, they treat the causes of heartburn, and are not at all intended to instantly relieve an unpleasant symptom without regard to its origin.

Famotidine (Kvamatel, Ulfamid)

Rating: 4.7

Kvamatel, or Famotidine, is available in two forms: both in tablets and in vials for intravenous administration. It is important that famotidine not only makes hydrochloric acid less strong, less concentrated, and thus reduces the unpleasant symptoms of heartburn, but it also reduces the total amount of gastric juice secretion. This is important for those patients who are undergoing surgery on the stomach and need to make it “drier.”

Kvamatel is indicated for all those diseases and conditions that lead to the development of heartburn syndrome: peptic ulcers, reflux, peptic ulcers, gastroduodenitis, and even gastrointestinal bleeding.

For reflux esophagitis, for example, the drug is used one 20 mg tablet twice a day, but if necessary, you can increase the dosage twice. This drug is produced by the Hungarian company Gedeon Richter, and you can purchase 14 tablets with a dosage of 40 mg for 100 rubles. There are numerous types of famotidine, and the cheapest domestic famotidine can be purchased at a price of 14 rubles. for 20 tablets with a dosage of 20 mg. It is produced domestically.

Gastrointestinal motility stimulants

Gastrointestinal motility stimulants can also be used to relieve heartburn; they do not affect acidity, but help reduce reflux symptoms, and also reduce nausea by having an antiemetic effect.