Acid Reflux Medicine
The muscle that prevents stomach acid from backing up and entering the esophagus and throat is the esophageal sphincter. Stomach acid that does backup into the throat is acid reflux. Some acid reflux medicines such as antihistamines, birth control pills, antispasmodics, heart medications and asthma medications can decrease the strength of the lower esophageal muscles. This however, happens over time, not right away. When the esophageal muscle weakens, acid reflux occurs more frequently.
Acid reflux medicine should be taken as prescribed in order for it to work properly. If you start feeling better after taking your medicine, do not stop taking it. Otherwise, your symptoms just may reappear. If your acid reflux remains untreated then it can lead to a more serious condition known as gastoesophageal reflux disease or GERD.
Many people do not inform their doctor that they have stopped taking their acid reflux medicine until the condition becomes very serious and thus they then require more intensive treatment options. Thus, if you are taking heartburn medications do not stop taking it if your symptoms subside.
Mild acid reflux is treated with antacids. A more persistent form of acid reflux is treated with stronger antacids such as Mylanta II, Maalox II and Riopan. A greater number of people than the tablet form prefer liquid forms of acid reflux medicine. Antacid medication is to be taken thirty to sixty minutes after meals and before going to bed.
Certain types of foods should be avoided if you have acid reflux. These particular foods have chemicals that trigger acid reflux. Foods such as chocolate, peppermint, tomatoes and products made from tomatoes should be avoided since they cause heartburn and acid reflux.
Stomach acid reducing drugs known as histamine receptor blockers are available to acid reflux sufferers. Proton-pump inhibitors are just as effective at reducing the acid production in your stomach and preventing excess stomach acids from refluxing into your esophagus. Acid reflux medicines such as Prokinetic or Motility have the ability to close the esophageal sphincter muscle more tightly. Drugs such as Omepraxole or Lansoprazole have the ability to heal inflammation in the esophagus quite quickly. Drugs such as these are valuable in the fight against acid reflux disease.
If your acid reflux medicine is not helping to reduce your acid reflux symptoms then surgery may be considered. Less than twenty-five percent of acid reflux sufferers actually require having surgery. It is a relatively minor surgical procedure, which is carried out through the belly button. Specialists use a pencil thin camera to see a detailed picture inside of the body. Tiny instruments are inserted through the small incisions to surgically correct the persons acid reflux condition. This surgery creates a more efficient esophageal valve by wrapping the stomach pleat around the esophagus. The particular surgery is Laparoscopic Nissen Fundoplication.
If acid reflux medicine does not alleviate your acid reflux or heartburn symptoms then this is only when surgery is an option. If you feel that you have the symptoms of acid reflux disease then your first step should be to consult your physician to plan a course of action.