Antacids for Acid Reflux: How do you spell relief?

Home » Acid Reflux Guide » Medical Treatment for Acid Reflux Disease » Antacids for Acid Reflux: How do you spell relief?
antacids for acid reflux

Antacids are a heartburn medication that neutralizes stomach acid to reduce symptoms of reflux disease. This form of medication is available over-the-counter, meaning you do not need a prescription or physician supervision to access them.
As with all other forms of acid reflux medications, antacids for acid reflux are not a cure. This medication works by reducing levels of acid in the stomach and esophagus during instances of heartburn. While often beneficial for those with occasional heartburn, antacids are not a long-term solution for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

How Antacids Work

The stomach contains corrosive fluids that aid in the breakdown and digestion of foods. To stay protected from these fluids, the stomach contains a layer of mucous that prevents acids from irritating the tissue lining the stomach.
The esophagus, which is the long tube that connects the stomach to the throat, does not have this protective layer, so when acid from the stomach splashes upwards it causes irritation and inflammation that is experienced as heartburn.
Antacids reduce heartburn by suppressing stomach acid, often eliminating the presence of acid outside the stomach. This is accomplished through a mixture of chemicals and minerals that target and neutralize stomach acid. These include magnesium, aluminum and calcium.
Common antacid medications are:

  • Alka-Seltzer
  • Tums
  • Milk of Magnesia
  • Maalox
  • Mylanta
  • Rolaids
  • Pepto-Bismol

Antacids are fast-acting, which means they are meant to be taken when the symptoms of heartburn and acid reflux begin. This form of reflux medication cannot prevent heartburn from developing, and is not intended for everyday use.

Potential Side Effects and Risks of Long-Term use of Antacids for Acid Reflux

Stomach acid is necessary for digestion. It aids in the breakdown of vitamins and minerals so they can be properly absorbed into our bloodstream and kills germs present in our food. Antacids reduce the presence of stomach acid, and over time this may interfere with other aspects of your health.
Common side-effects of antacids include:

  • Constipation
  • Diarrhea
  • Gas
  • Abdominal cramping
  • Nausea or vomiting

Many people who have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or a hiatal hernia and the symptoms of reflux disease do not experience any relief from antacids.
For this medication to be effective, it needs to be used every time heartburn develops. Those with chronic acid reflux or GERD are often better off seeking long-term treatment solutions, like anti-reflux surgery.

From the Palmyra Surgical Blog

  • Cooking Tips for Heartburn-Friendly Meals
    For someone with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), eating certain foods can cause extreme acid reflux and heartburn. Learn how to cook without the heartburn with these healthy tips.
  • Weight Loss for GERD
    Weight Loss for GERD
    Losing weight may provide relief from chronic heartburn, even for those who struggle with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Overweight and obese men and women struggle with acid reflux disease at a much higher prevalence rate than their healthy-weight counterparts.
  • Smoking: A Culprit in the World of Reflux
    In the past two decades, a lot of research has come out about tobacco use—and the news hasn’t been good for tobacco companies. Whereas once smoking appeared to be a harmless pastime, something that just about everyone did, inside and outdoors, that isn’t the game anymore. Tobacco use continues to decline across the United States, but there are still a lot of people out there who smoke at least somewhat regularly. By the latest estimates from the Centers for Disease and Control, about 18% of US adults use tobacco products in some form or another.
  • The Compliment Conundrum
    For Acid Reflux, Put the Soda Down
    Soda is hands-down one of the most popular drinks in the United States. This can be proven on the number of sales alone. Based on national sale data, there is enough soda sold annually for every adult to drink a full 45 gallons of soda per year. There are aquariums sold that are smaller than that! But when you stop and think about it, there is really no wonder as to why soda is such a major drink in our diets. The beverage is filled with sugar, and most of our favorite sodas pack enough caffeine to help us power through a busy afternoon at work.
  • Acid Reflux More Common than Ever
    Americans are dealing with more health problems now than they ever had in the past. This is based on statistical data that finds that chronic diseases are pretty much on the rise across the board. One of the biggest causes of this startling rise in health problems is obesity, which directly affects more than one-third of the US adult population, with another third being overweight and at risk.