What Medication is needed
In most cases of the GERD diseases, adopting lifestyle changes may be enough to control and alleviate the pain of acid reflux or heartburn.
When the symptoms of acid reflux persist after sustained lifestyle changes, you may have to resort to the medication. Your doctor may suggest you take some non-prescription acid reflux medications to start with.
While there are medications for acid reflux available both non-prescription and prescription, the fact is these medications are only meant for short-term treatment and can cause side effects when taken continuously for a number of years.
The most common non- prescription acid reflux medicines are antaci
ds.
- Antacids may reduce gastric acidity of stomach and relief Reflux. Antacids rely on the principle of reducing the amount of acid in the stomach thus decreasing the occurrence of acid reflux . These are usually the first drugs recommended to relieve heartburn and other mild GERD symptoms. These over-the-counter drugs are effective when taken after meals and at bedtime to neutralize stomach acid already present.
In other severe cases, if self-care and treatment with nonprescription medication do not work, a prescription acid reflux medication might be needed. Therefore your doctor likely will prescribe one of a class of stronger antacids. This therapy may be needed only for a short time or over a longer period while you make gradual changes in your lifestyle.
A several number of prescription medications are available and approved to treat severe heartburn ( GERD ) by preventing secretion of acid from the stomach..
- H2 receptor blockers (such as ranitidine ) reduce acid production of stomach. H2-blockers usually help to relief the symptom of acid reflux by inhib
iting acid secretion in the stomach. Same as antacids, when the stomach acid reduces, acid reflux also reduces. H2-blockers are effective only if taken at least 1 hour before meals because they don't neutralize acid that is already present in the stomach.. - Proton pump inhibitors (such as omeprazole ) are the most effective in reducing gastric acid secretion. These drugs prevent acid production. It works by reducing the acidity of the stomach contents through inhibiting the enzyme that is responsible for acid secretion. Proton pump inhibitors are more effective than H2 blockers and can relieve GERD symptoms and heal inflammation of the esophageal lining and prevent complications of acid reflux disease.
However people with GERD , gastro reflux should discuss with a physician before start taking the above drugs as health care provider is the best source of information about how to use medications for GERD and how to monitor closely its complications and effectiveness of medications..
When Surgery needed for Acid reflux disease or GERD
Surgery is not a first option but when lifestyle changes and medicine do not help to treat GERD symptoms then surgery can be an option to think about. usually lifestyle changes, diet , nonprescription antacids and prescription medications would help to mitigate symptoms , therefore all these should be tried first before deciding to go for surgical treatment. Nissen Fundoplication is the name of surgical procedure for GERD in which upper part of stomach wrapped around lower esophageal sphincter (LES ) in order to strengthen the sphincter and prevent acid reflux and repair hiatal hernia.
The procedure is often performed using a laparoscope, an instrument that is inserted through tiny incisions in the abdomen.
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