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Author: Admin | 2025-04-28
Spicy food, taking an H2 blocker an hour before your meal can help ward off symptoms. When taken before bed, they can help with nighttime heartburn.How soon do they take effect? Usually, they start to work in an hour and the results last for up to 12 hours. One medicine, Pepcid Complete, combines two antacids (calcium carbonate and magnesium hydroxide) with an H2 blocker (famotidine) for both immediate and longer-term relief.H2 blockers are not always effective against chronic heartburn caused by gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).You can take over-the-counter H2 blockers for up to 2 weeks for short-term help. If you have used over-the-counter medicines to treat your symptoms for longer than that, talk to your doctor.Side effects can include diarrhea, constipation, dizziness, and sleepiness.The bottom line: H2 blockers can be an effective treatment against moderate cases of heartburn. One of their advantages is that they can be taken as needed and don't need to be taken daily to work. You can also take them before a meal to help prevent symptoms. But if you have a severe case or your symptoms are not relieved after two weeks of twice daily H2 blockers, you'll likely need a stronger medication.If antacids and H2 blockers don’t give you enough relief, or if you have heartburn often or your reflux is severe, you may want to try another type of drug called a proton pump inhibitor (PPI).PPIs include over-the-counter and prescription pills and tablets. No formulation has been shown to be better than any other, but you may find one that is more effective for your symptoms. Over-the-counter medications include esomeprazole (Nexium), lansoprazole (Prevacid), omeprazole (Prilosec), and omeprazole/sodium bicarbonate (Zegerid).Medications that your doctor can prescribe include dexlansoprazole (Dexilant), esomeprazole (Nexium), lansoprazole (Prevacid), omeprazole (Prilosec), omeprazole/sodium bicarbonate (Zegerid), pantoprazole (Protonix), and rabeprazole (Aciphex).How do they work? In your stomach, millions of tiny pumps make acid to break down food. PPIs turn off some of these pumps. The result is less stomach acid. PPIs are the only GERD medication that can heal an inflamed esophagus or an ulcer.How soon do they take effect? Some people expect PPIs to help right away. But they can take up to 4 days to start working. Unlike H2 blockers, PPIs are meant to be taken every day for at least 2 weeks. Sometimes your doctor might prescribe a 4- to 8-week course, and some patients find they need them indefinitely. All of the PPIs work best when taken on an empty stomach 30 minutes prior to breakfast. Side effects: There are a number of potential side effects from taking PPIs long term, but study data is weak There is a concern for diarrheal infections and pneumonia. The low acid state can affect the absorption of multiple vitamins and minerals, leading to low iron, magnesium, calcium, and vitamin B12 levels. Low bone density leading to an increased risk of fracture, such as breaking a hip, is also a concern..When you suddenly stop taking PPIs, your body may produce an overabundance of
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