Acid Reflux Medication
December 1st, 2010 | 
Author: Through a process of normal digestion, partly digested food travels from the stomach towards the small intestines. But then, some individuals tend to experience the other way. Food from the stomach goes back up to the esophagus. This disorder is what we refer to as acid reflux.
Among the known symptoms of acid reflux are troubles in swallowing food, regurgitation, heartburn, asthma, dental erosion, chest pain, dyspepsia, hoarseness, vomiting, etcetera.
If left untreated, a person with acid reflux can suffer for months. Drug treatment, however, is an important part of treating the condition.
Among the medications commonly used are:
Antacids. The use of these is to balance out or at most times decrease the acid level in your digestive tract. This is used to relieve mild heartburns and indigestions. Antacids, which are commonly made of calcium, aluminum and magnesium, also shield the stomach lining by inducing mucous and bicarbonate secretion. These are probably the cheapest and most accessible cure for acid reflex. They are too the basic medications that are prescribed by doctors to relieve acid reflux symptoms.
Histamine Blockers. Histamine blockers or anti-histamines are known to have acid suppressing properties which are important in preventing acid reflex. Histamine, on the other hand, is a bodily substance that stimulates stomach acid secretion. Like antacids, anti-histamines can also be acquired without doctor’s prescription. However, one would have to wait 30 minutes to one and a half hour for the much awaited relief. But the good thing about anti-histamine is that it provides relief much longer than antacids which can extend from 6 to 24 hours. Extreme cases of acid reflux might require one to have two dosages daily. Some studies show that anti-histamine also relieves symptoms of asthma.
In 2001 though, research was conducted where it was found out that histamine blockers rarely relieve heartburn and dyspepsia indications.
Proton Pump Inhibitors. Like the previous two, proton pump inhibitors also lessen stomach acid secretion by targeting the stomach lining cells which are responsible for acid production. But then, studies have found that proton pump inhibitors use has some side effects. Among these are headache, allergies and itching, nausea and diarrhea.
Drugs which protect the gastrointestinal lining are also administered to acid reflux patients. Mucus lining protectors are attached to the ulcer crater and serves as a screen from damages which digestive juices might impose. However, drugs of this kind should be taken in moderation as it is known to have side effects such as constipation and other digestive problems.
Anti-spasm drugs, as well, are useful for providing relief for both acid and non-acid reflux. Gamma-amino acid butyric acid agonist is a kind of anti-spasm drug used to lessen the occurrence of spasms. Another good thing about anti-spasm medications is that it also heightens esophageal sphincter pressure, thus decreasing the possibility of food from going back up to the esophagus.
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Posted in Acid Reflux Cure | 
Tags: Acid reflux, acid reflux drugs, Acid Reflux Medication, acid reflux treatment, cure acid reflux