Saturday, January 12, 2008

Acid Reflux Medication: Keeping Heartburn at Bay

Acid Reflux Medication: Keeping Heartburn at Bay

In a average digestive growth, the partially digested food is being forwarded by stable movements from the belly to the innards. However, for some mortals, the abdomen load trekking back to the esophagus from the tummy. This parameter is admitted as acid reflux.

Common symptoms of this disease build heartburn, difficulty in swallowing, regurgitation, chest pains, dental abrasion, hoarseness, asthma, dyspepsia, vomiting, and multifold others.

If not properly treated, acid reflux onus last for several months. But drug treatment incubus play an main bite in the treatment process of a generous.

The most common medications used allow for the following:

Antacids. These drugs are used to erase the acids in the digestive tract and are primarily taken in for relief of mild symptoms, agnate as intermittent episodes of indigestion and heartburn. They further act to incite the defensive mechanisms of our tummy by homestead up the juice of mucous and bicarbonate. Most antacids pledge be bought over the polar parallel mislaid a medical prescription. Further, these drugs are one of the anterior to be recommended by professionals to lessen the distress brought about by heartburn or mild symptoms. The three basic ingredients of antacids are magnesium, calcium, and aluminum.

Acid suppressants relating as histamine blockers are and commonly used. Histamine blockers block the production of paunch acids by alienating the actions of histamine. Histamine is a chemical in the body that promotes the production and liquid of acids in the abdomen. Weak - histamines are available comparable forfeited prescription and offers relief of symptoms in most of the patients with frequent acid reflux. Patients have to wait for 30 to 90 minutes for these drugs to take effect. But their effect also lasts six to 24 hours. In cases of severe symptoms, a patient may have to take two dosages a day. In some researches, histamine blockers have shown to improve asthmatic symptoms in those who endure from both acid reflux and asthma.

However, in a study dated 2001, it was suggested that histamine blockers occasionally impart complete relief of symptoms for dyspepsia and heartburn.

Proton pump inhibitors are also employed as a medication. They act to trim down the production of stomach acids by reacting with the cells found in the stomach wall which produce and release acids into the stomach. However, researches have revealed that the use of proton pump inhibitors poses some concerns. Side effects, although uncommon, include diarrhea, headache, itching, and nausea. Moreover, these drugs should also be stayed away from by pregnant and breast - feeding mothers.

Another medication that is generally handled is the use of agents which protect the mucus lining in the gastrointestinal region. This kind of drug acts by attaching to an ulcer crater so that it will be guarded from damage caused by digestive acids. It is advisable for people undergoing maintenance therapy with mild or moderate acid reflux conditions. Likewise, it has minor side effects, including constipation.

Anti - spasm drugs are also utilized to prevent acid and even non - acid reflux. A gamma - amino acid butyric acid agonist, an anti - spasm drug is generally used to abate the spasms in the muscles. Unlike most medicines used for acid reflux, it can also lessen non - acid refluxes and amplify the pressure in the lower esophageal sphincter, a muscle that separates the esophagus from the stomach and prevents backing up of stomach contents.


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