GERD - Acid Reflux Discount Online Pharmacy

Buy Discount Acid Reflux Prescriptions Online

In the spring of 2003 the National Heartburn Alliance conducted a survey and found that 26% (an estimated 54 million) of adult Americans suffer from frequent heartburn. So many people suffer from heartburn and acid reflux that it is often not taken seriously, but heartburn and acid reflux can severely limit daily activities and productivity. Acid reflux is a condition where gastric juices containing acid travel back from the stomach into the oesophagus (food pipe). Some people experience this problem regularly and have a condition called gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD. Factors contributing to acid reflux include fatty foods, cigarettes, chocolate, caffeine, alcohol, obesity, pregnancy and delayed stomach emptying. Obesity and pregnancy increase pressures within the abdomen (body trunk), pushing the stomach contents into the oesophagus. Symptoms of acid reflux include heartburn (a burning feeling rising from the stomach or lower chest up towards the neck), regurgitation and a difficulty in swallowing (dysphagia). Antacids are medicines that are commonly used to treat acid-related symptoms, like heartburn or indigestion, and work by neutralising acid in the stomach. However, they are not usually recommended to treat the frequent heartburn suffered by people with GERD. Medications called acid suppressants such as H2-antagonists and proton-pump inhibitors are more appropriate. Lifestyle Changes to Control GERD If you smoke, stop. Do not drink alcohol. Lose weight if needed. Eat small meals. Wear loose-fitting clothes. Avoid lying down for 3 hours after a meal. Raise the head of your bed 6 to 8 inches by putting blocks of wood under the bedposts--just using extra pillows will not help. Medications For Treating GERD Your doctor may recommend over-the-counter antacids, which you can buy without a prescription, or medications that stop acid production or help the muscles that empty your stomach. Antacids Antacids, such as Alka-Seltzer, Maalox, Mylanta, Pepto-Bismol, Rolaids, and Riopan, are usually the first drugs recommended to relieve heartburn and other mild GERD symptoms. Many brands on the market use different combinations of three basic salts--magnesium, calcium, and aluminum--with hydroxide or bicarbonate ions to neutralize the acid in your stomach. Antacids, however, have side effects. Magnesium salt can lead to diarrhea, and aluminum salts can cause constipation. Aluminum and magnesium salts are often combined in a single product to balance these effects. Calcium carbonate antacids, such as Tums, Titralac, and Alka-2, can also be a supplemental source of calcium. They can cause constipation as well. Foaming agents Foaming agents, such as Gaviscon, work by covering your stomach contents with foam to prevent reflux. These drugs may help those who have no damage to the esophagus. H2 blockers H2 blockers, such as cimetidine (Tagamet HB), famotidine (Pepcid AC), nizatidine (Axid AR), and ranitidine (Zantac 75), impede acid production. They are available in prescription strength and over the counter. These drugs provide short-term relief, but over-the-counter H2 blockers should not be used for more than a few weeks at a time. They are effective for about half of those who have GERD symptoms. Many people benefit from taking H2 blockers at bedtime in combination with a proton pump inhibitor. Proton pump inhibitors These include omeprazole (Prilosec), lansoprazole (Prevacid), pantoprazole (Protonix), rabeprazole (Aciphex), and esomeprazole (Nexium), which are all available by prescription. Proton pump inhibitors are more effective than H2 blockers and can relieve symptoms in almost everyone who has GERD. Prokinetics Another group of drugs, prokinetics, helps strengthen the sphincter and makes the stomach empty faster. This group includes bethanechol (Urecholine) and metoclopramide (Reglan). Metoclopramide also improves muscle action in the digestive tract, but these drugs have frequent side effects that limit their usefulness. Because drugs work in different ways, combinations of drugs may help control symptoms. People who get heartburn after eating may take both antacids and H2 blockers. The antacids work first to neutralize the acid in the stomach, while the H2 blockers act on acid production. By the time the antacid stops working, the H2 blocker will have stopped acid production. Your doctor is the best source of information on how to use medications for GERD. For more information: the National Heartburn Alliance at www.heartburnalliance.org (opens in a new window)