Stomach Acid Treatments

Acid reflux is a condition in which acid from the stomach leaks into the esophagus and causes pain. There are many treatments for acid reflux disease, both medicinal and non-medicinal.

Dietary Changes

Acid reflux is often alleviated by dietary changes. Avoiding foods that are high in acid, such as citrus fruit and tomatoes, can keep the contents of the stomach from becoming too acidic. Spicy foods can also trigger acid reflux so should be avoided. Caffeine, chocolate, alcohol and peppermint can all increase acid reflux by weakening the sphincter between the esophagus and the stomach. Foods high in fat can also trigger acid reflux. Carbonated beverages such as colas, seltzer water and beer can fill the stomach with air and increase acid reflux.

Behavioral Changes

Overeating can cause acid reflux. A full stomach puts pressure on the sphincter between the esophagus and the stomach, which weakens it and causes acid to reflux into the esophagus. Eating smaller meals more often can help alleviate heartburn. Do not eat right before laying down, because the contents of the stomach have a tendency to reflux in a reclining position. If your acid reflux is a chronic problem, try sleeping with your head and upper torso slightly inclined and avoiding eating before bedtime. Because acid reflux is occasionally caused by stress, reducing stress in your life through exercise or meditation may help relieve heartburn symptoms.

Over-the-Counter Medications

Antacids are an inexpensive and widely available treatment for acid indigestion. These drugs neutralize the acid in the stomach, which decreases discomfort during reflux. Histamine-2 blockers are also available without a prescription and also effectively treat acid reflux. These work by decreasing the amount of acid your stomach produces, leaving less acid to reflux and lessening your acid reflux symptoms. Tolerances to histamine-2 blockers can build and render these medications less effective over time.

Proton-Pump Inhibiting Drugs

Proton-pump inhibitors are more powerful versions of histamine-2 blockers and block acid production in the stomach. Unlike histamine-2 blockers, however, there is little potential for developing a tolerance to these drugs. These drugs effectively decrease the amount of acid produced for days after you begin taking them, but may take up to five days to begin working initially.

Prokinetic Drugs

Promotility or prokinetic drugs are prescription medications that hasten the process of stomach emptying, which can be a problem particularly for diabetic people with acid reflux disease. Many times acid indigestion is caused by the contents of the stomach pushing upward against and being forced out of the sphincter between the esophagus and the stomach. If the stomach is emptied more quickly, the chance of this process occurring is reduced.