Acid Reflux Medicine

Acid Reflux is a miserable condition that millions of people suffer from throughout the world. Fortunately, there are several medications that are available for treating it.

Antacids

Antacids work on the principal that you can neutralize acids into salts by providing an alkali compound for the acid to react with. Most antacids are built around a magnesium base (milk of magnesia), aluminum, or calcium. The drawback of antacids is that when they're gone from the stomach, the stomach will build up acid again. So, the best way to take antacids is either just before a meal, or immediately after. Drinking milk with a meal also works as a mild antacid. Most antacids will give relief for about an hour after ingestion, up to two hours with a meal.

Histamine Antagonists

Histimine antagonists are a relatively recent category of drugs that block the receptor that triggers the stomach into making more acid. Brand names include Zantac and Protectic. This category of drug is now available as an over the counter drug, generally called renitidine. This category of drug generally takes 30-60 minutes to take effect, and can be moderately expensive.

Proton Pump Inhibitors

Proton Pump Inhibitors block the hydrogen/potassium enzyme system, which is the last step in getting the stomach to produce acid. This drug can have irreversable effects (greatly reducing the amount of acid the stomach produces) and is generally prescription only because of this. This category of drug (sold under the brand names Prilosec and Nexium) is not available as an over the counter agent, but does have effects that persist for days (the cells that they inhibit eventually are replaced by the body's healing agents.)