Proton-Pump Inhibitors Used as Heartburn Medicine
People with
heartburn symptoms that occur more than twice a week or are not relieved with
antacids may have a condition known as gastroesophageal reflux disease, or
GERD for short. For people with
heartburn caused by GERD, another class of heartburn medicine may be recommended. These medications are called proton-pump inhibitors, or "PPIs."
These medicines reduce the amount of acid that your stomach releases. PPIs are effective at both relieving heartburn symptoms and healing the damage that GERD does to the esophagus. They are often recommended for people who already have moderate to serious damage to the lining of their esophagus. They are also recommended for people whose symptoms are not relieved by
H2 blockers.
Examples of this type of heartburn medicine that are available by prescription include:
Prilosec® (
omeprazole) is another proton-pump inhibitor that is available without a prescription. Prilosec is an alteration of the chemical structure of Nexium.
Heartburn Medicine: Summary
There are a number of different types of medicine for people with heartburn. Because each class of heartburn medicine works in a different way, combinations of drugs can be very effective in controlling symptoms. People who get heartburn after eating may take both antacids and H2 blockers. The antacids work first to neutralize the acid in the stomach, while the H2 blockers act on acid production. By the time the antacid stops working, the H2 blocker will have stopped acid production. As always, talk to your doctor about which heartburn medicine is best for your situation.
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