Those who at least once experienced heartburn know how unpleasant this symptom is. The burning sensation, heat, pain, localized in the epigastric filling area, can be accompanied by other manifestations, continue for a long time, hindering daily life. Help in such situations are capable of heartburn pills.
Why does heartburn occur?
This symptom appears often immediately after eating food or drinks or after some time after a meal. Discomfort is associated with the effect on the mucous membrane of the esophagus of the contents of the stomach, which came out from there in the opposite direction. As a result of aggressive exposure to gastric contents, which includes acids, bile, digestive enzymes and other components, burns and inflammation of the tissues occur.
Causes of heartburn can be associated with one of the following abnormalities provoking a reverse movement of gastric contents:
- decrease in the tone of the esophageal sphincter - the lower one, dividing the esophagus and stomach, or the upper, separating the pharynx from the esophagus;
- increased acidity of gastric juice;
- weakening of the transport function of the esophagus (poor peristalsis).
These phenomena are the basis of the following diseases of the digestive system:
- esophagitis ;
- gastroesophageal reflux disease;
- diffuse spasm of the esophagus ;
- gastritis;
- peptic ulcer;
- functional dyspepsia ;
- diaphragmatic hernia and others.
With such pathologies, heartburn appears with one or another periodicity, in parallel with other symptoms. People with a normally functioning digestive system may also occasionally experience short-term burning behind the sternum, which is caused by the following factors:
- binge eating;
- exercise immediately after eating;
- the use of excessively sharp, acidic or fatty foods;
- rest in a lying position immediately after leaving the table;
- treatment with certain medications (antispasmodics, cardiac drugs, antidepressants and others);
- wearing tight clothes;
- excess weight;
- smoking;
- alcohol abuse;
- stress;
- pregnancy.
Which pills help with heartburn?
Treatment of heartburn requires an integrated approach and includes mandatory compliance with a healthy diet and proper diet, avoiding bad habits, using medications, and sometimes - surgical intervention. Often, drugs that help to eliminate this symptom have a tablet form, which makes it convenient to use and dispense. The choice of these or those tablets from heartburn should be carried out by a doctor who will find out the causes of the malfunctions and, in accordance with the diagnosis, prescribe a medication with the necessary mechanism of action.
Let's enumerate which pills for heartburn can be prescribed (the main groups of drugs):
- antacids ;
- alginates;
- blockers of H2-histamine receptors;
- proton pump inhibitors;
- selective M-cholinolytics;
- prokinetics.
How do heartburn tablets work?
Let's consider, what effect on an organism render preparations from a heartburn of each of the groups resulted above:
- Antacid agents - upon ingestion into the stomach cavity, these drugs interact with the evolved juice, as a result of which the acid is neutralized to form water and water-soluble salts. Together with this, an increase in mucus production is provoked, which provides additional protection of the gastric walls from the damaging effect of acid. These drugs provide a quick elimination of the symptom, but do not heal the affected esophagus tissues and are unable to prevent the occurrence of heartburn again.
- Alginates - preparations of plant origin. Alginic acid salts, penetrating into the stomach, enter into a chemical reaction with gastric acid, the result of which becomes the formation of a gel-like substance. The resulting gel is characterized by an almost neutral level of acidity, it envelops the walls of the stomach and esophagus with a strong protective film that lasts up to 4 hours. Thanks to alginates, the mucous membranes quickly recover, erosion overgrows. In addition, a barrier is created that prevents the ingestion of gastric acid into the esophageal tube.
- H2-antihistamines - antisecretory drugs, the effect of which is associated with blocking the receptors of the gastric mucosa, which leads to a sharp decrease in the production of hydrochloric acid. In addition, the medicines under consideration increase the synthesis of gastric mucus, improve metabolic processes in the tissues of the digestive organs, promote the normalization of the motor function of the stomach and duodenum. Often, these drugs are recommended for heartburn associated with increased production of gastric acid.
- The agents belonging to the group of proton pump inhibitors act by blocking specific enzymes, thereby reducing the production of hydrochloric acid by the gastric tissues. Like previous drugs, they are antisecretory and are recommended for acid-dependent diseases of the digestive system, however, these drugs provide a longer lasting effect with fewer adverse reactions.
- Selective m-cholinolytics are antisecretory pills for heartburn, which block the effect of the parasympathetic nervous system (vagus nerve) on the secretion of hydrochloric acid and pepsin, without inhibiting the M-cholinergic receptors of salivary glands, heart and other organs. Currently, they are rarely used due to the many negative side effects.
- The effect of prokinetic drugs is associated with the activation of the movement of the gastrointestinal walls (enhancement of motility). These drugs can enhance the tone of the lower esophageal sphincter, which facilitates the rapid evacuation of stomach contents and prevents reverse casting. Often prokinetics are recommended for the treatment of conditions accompanied by heartburn, nausea, a feeling of overfilling the stomach.
Tablets for heartburn - titles
Picking up pills for heartburn, the list of which is very impressive, it is necessary to take into account the causal factors. The effect of drugs should be directed at eliminating those pathological processes that cause uncomfortable manifestations. In addition, if you need a long course of treatment, it is important to find inexpensive heartburn pills, while quality and effective. Below we will briefly consider several popular tools.
Tablets from Heartburn Omez
These are effective pills for heartburn (or rather, capsules), produced by the Indian pharmaceutical concern Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Ltd. The drug belongs to the group of proton pump inhibitors and provides resistance to the production of hydrochloric acid in the stomach. The active ingredient is omeprazole. The effect is achieved after 1-2 hours and lasts for a day.
Tablets for Heartburn Omeprazole
Under this name, corresponding to the active substance, tablets are produced from heartburn inexpensive, domestic (Russian producers - Nizhpharm, Akrihin). Based on the active ingredient, the effect that these products produce from heartburn and gastritis is similar to the previous medicine. It is worth noting that omeprazole as part of a complex treatment is very helpful in infecting the digestive tract with the bacterium Helicobacter pylori - a frequent culprit of ulcerative lesions.
Tablets from heartburn Ranitidine
This medicine for heartburn, the manufacturer of which - the Serbian company "Hemofarm", is a blocker of H2-histamine receptors of the second generation with the active ingredient ranitidine hydrochloride. The drug begins to work almost immediately after taking and continues its effect, which consists in reducing the synthesis of hydrochloric acid and the volume of gastric juice, increasing the pH in the stomach for 12 hours.
Pustaevsky - pills for heartburn
The drug under consideration belongs to dietary supplements and is produced by the Ukrainian pharmaceutical enterprise "Technologist". These chewable tablets are from heartburn with several flavors, the active ingredients in them are magnesium and calcium carbonate - antacids. The drug neutralizes free hydrochloric acid in the digestive tract, supplementing in addition the deficiency in the body of calcium and magnesium. Pozhaevsky - pills for heartburn, which help in a short time to improve well-being, but are short-lived.
Tablets from heartburn Gaviscon
These are alginate heartburn pills, which are produced by Reckitt Benckiser (UK). Active components of the drug: sodium alginate, sodium hydrogen carbonate, calcium carbonate. The drug when penetrating the gastrointestinal system forms a protective film, which helps to restore tissues and prevent their further damage by aggressive components. Starting to act after a few minutes, these heartburn tablets protect the mucous tissues of the digestive system within 4 hours.
Pills for heartburn Gastal
Finding out which pills to drink with heartburn, many patients receive a recommendation to take Gastal, manufactured by Pliva Hrvatska (Croatia). It is an antacid with active substances of aluminum hydroxide-magnesium carbonate gel and magnesium hydroxide, which normalizes the acidity of the gastric secretion and eliminates diarrheal phenomena. The effect develops immediately and lasts for 2 hours.
Pills for heartburn - rating
According to reviews and medical observations, the best pills for heartburn can be identified in the following list:
- Almagel.
- Maalox .
- Omeprazole.
- Zulbex.
- Ranitidine.
- Parries.
- Gaviscon.
- Renny.
Tablets for heartburn for pregnant women
The medicine for heartburn for pregnant women, which does not harm the fetus, should be selected with special responsibility. For this purpose it is necessary to address to the doctor who will advise the most safe and effective preparation. Let's list those funds that are allowed to take in the period of bearing a child:
- Gaviscon;
- Almagel;
- Gastricid;
- Rennie;
- Phosphalugel ;
- Rutatsid.