There are a wide variety of acid reducers and antacids available to relieve heartburn or treat acid reflux, both OTC (over-the-counter), or with a doctor's prescription. Antacids are usually prescribed for mild symptoms. H2 blockers, and proton pump inhibitors are somewhat stronger. They both work to reduce acid production. There are also combination medicines that include two or more drugs.
Talk to your doctor to find one that works best for you. If you have a problem with side effects Your doctor may have some ideas how to minimize those side effects or suggest a different drug.
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Features
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Side effects of anti acids or acid reducers are usually mild and go away on their own. These may include constipation, diarrhea, headaches, or nausea.
Drugs that are used long-term to suppress acid belong to two groups. The first group is the H2 blocker family, including ranitidine (Zantac), cimetidine (Tagamet), nizatidine (Axid), and famotidine (Pepcid). This group of medicines usually have few side effects. Patients may experience diarrhea, muscle pain, headache, dizziness. Less common include fever, skin rashes, enlarged or painful breasts, severe itching, impotence, and confusion or hallucinations.
The other group is the proton pump inhibitors, including omeprazole (Prilosec, Prilosec OTC), esomeprazole (Nexium), lansoprazole (Prevacid), pantoprazole (Protonix, Pantoloc), and rabeprazole (Aciphex). A very small percentage (5%) experience diarrhea or headache. Other possible side effects include constipation, blurred vision, muscle or joint pain, itching, dizziness, abdominal pain, swollen ankles, or rash.
Considerations
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Both H2 blockers and proton pump inhibitors reduce stomach acid. Stomach acid usually controls bacteria in the stomach, so without this acid patients can experience bacteria overgrowth in the stomach. These bacteria don't usually cause any harm, however, with acid reflux they may get splashed upwards where they may enter your trachea ("windpipe") and upper airways. This is a concern because it may cause people on anti-acid drugs to get pneumonia.
Significance
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Often these drugs are used long term and this can create other side effects. Almost any antacid used long term can increase the risk of kidney stones. Antacids such as Alka-2, Tums, or Tutrakax can cause a buildup of calcium in the blood, resulting in kidney failure. Milk of Magnesia can cause diarrhea from some antacids and constipation is common from others such as Amphogel and Alternagel.
Potential
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Once you reduce the acid in the stomach your body has difficulty absorbing vitamin B12. This vitamin is needed by the nerves and a deficiency can cause fatigue or even anemia, tingling, weakness, numbness or skin pain. You doctor can do a blood test to determine if you have a B12 deficiency.
Warning
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If side effects become severe or if one of the following occur, contact your doctor immediately these include itching, tingling, numbness of toes or fingers, difficulty breathing, tightness in the chest, loss of muscle coordination, difficulty grasping with your hands, rash, or swelling of the mouth, lips, tongue, or face.
Severe allergic reactions (rash, hives, itching, difficulty breathing, tightness in the chest, swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue), difficulty grasping with your hands, difficulty walking, itching, tingling, or numbness of fingers or toes, loss of muscle coordination.
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