- Heartburn that continues during or after an OTC treatment (OTC treatments are not working)
- Very severe, agonizing pain
- Heartburn during sleep, or heartburn that is disrupting sleep
- Heartburn more than two days per week for three months or more
- Vomiting
- Black tarry stools
- Choking, coughing, wheezing, or hoarseness
- Persistent nausea or diarrhea with onset of heartburn
- Chest pain, jaw pain, or left arm or shoulder pain accompanied by sweating
- Pregnancy or nursing
- Pain when swallowing
- Low magnesium
- Under 18 years old
- Have allergies to OTC medications used to treat heartburn
- Taking prescription medications including warfarin, methotrexate, digoxin, clopidogrel, cilostazol, anti fungal medications, tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil, HIV medications
- Losing weight
if you are overweight
- Elevating the head of your bed, avoiding lying down flat
- Eating smaller meals
- Decreasing dietary fat intake(see nutrition section)
- Avoiding eating 2-3 hours before lying down
- Monitoring your lifestyle for triggers of heartburn and removing them. Common triggers of heartburn include spicy or greasy foods, juices, soda, alcohol, caffeine and smoking.
- Keeping a diary that describes food consumption, medicine intake, and the times that heartburn occurs. This can then be used to eliminate triggers of heartburn.
Drug Therapy:
• Prilosec (omeprazole)
Complementary Products:
• Tums(as needed)
Drug Therapy:
• Pepcid (famotidine)
Complementary Products:
• Tums(as needed)