Choices in Treating Your Frequent Heartburn
There are a number of medications available to treat frequent heartburn. These products
vary widely according to how long they'll work, to what extent they will stop or
relieve heartburn, and whether clinical treatment is required. Because heartburn
can vary among individuals, the appropriate treatment for one person may not be
right for another. Some people may even benefit from basic
lifestyle changes. Your doctor or pharmacist can help you make the right
decisions.
Why Prilosec OTC® Is Different
Prilosec OTC is a proton pump inhibitor (PPI). As the first over-the-counter proton
pump inhibitor, Prilosec OTC is different from many other heartburn treatments and
medications. Here’s how PPIs compare to antacids and H2 blockers:
PPI (proton pump inhibitor)
When you eat, millions of tiny pumps in your stomach produce acid to break down
food—and heartburn occurs when these excess acids reflux into your esophagusHEARTBURN
GLOSSARY
Esophagus: Tube connecting the mouth to the stomach; a passageway
for food; part of the digestive system.. A PPI treatment,
such as Prilosec OTC, works by directly blocking many of these pumps. A PPI may
take one to four days for full effect. But as soon as it is fully working it effectively
blocks heartburn for 24 hours with one pill a day (for up to 14 days).* Your stomach
still produces enough acid to digest food, but reduces excess acid—making it an
effective and proactive heartburn treatment choice.
Antacids
AntacidsHEARTBURN
GLOSSARY
Antacids: Common treatment for heartburn symptoms, neutralizing
acid in the stomach for a short period of time. neutralize
the acid in your stomach. Antacids go to work on your heartburn immediately, but
they provide only temporary relief. Unlike the proactive PPI, antacids are commonly
taken after you eat or when discomfort begins. While no heartburn treatments cure
the condition, antacids provide only temporary relief.
H2 Blockers
H2 blockers relieve
heartburn symptoms by reducing acid production. H2 blockers can begin working
within an hour, so they act faster than a PPI, but they do not provide the immediate
relief of an antacid. H2 blockers then continue to work in the body for up to 12
hours. H2 blockers can work preventatively against heartburn, but they do not last
a full 24 hours from just one pill.
