Acid Reflux / Indigestion

Prices of treatment

Acid reflux treatment prices with online prescription.

Acid reflux, acid indigestion and heartburn

Acid reflux, heartburn and acid indigestion are used interchangeably. They are all terms describing the burning pain caused by stomach acid.

Acid produced in the stomach can travel up to the gullet and the back of the throat. This produces a burning sensation in the region of the breastbone and occasionally a taste of acid in the throat.

Dr Fox supplies two different strong acid suppressant medications for the treatment of reflux: Losec (Omeprazole) and Zantac (Ranitidine).

Frequency of Acid Indigestion

Almost everybody will experience acid indigestion from time to time. It can be brought on spicy food or by drinks such as wine or acid fruit juice. Most acid indigestion will settle with antacid tablets containing an alkali. These are the familiar chalky tablets or medicines.

Some people are prone to repeated episodes of acid reflux. For these people Losec (Omeprazole) or Zantac (Ranitidine) taken daily for few days will usually settle symptoms for a week or two at a time. Indigestion symptoms can usually be kept under control by taking a Losec (Omeprazole) or Zantac (Ranitidine) tablets on an as required basis.

Treatment

GPs prescribe regular Losec or Zantac for people with severe or ongoing acid symptoms.

Losec is more effective at suppressing acid than Zantac. Losec suppresses acid for around 24 hours per dose, Zantac for 12 hours. Both will be effective in people who get only occasional acid reflux symptoms.

GPs normally investigate acid reflux symptoms when they are severe, are changing or do not respond to simple antacid and acid suppressant treatments.

Medication and dosage

For people with mild or occasional symptoms Losec (Omeprazole) daily or Zantac (Ranitidine) twice daily for 4-5 days will settle the problem, usually for a few weeks at the time.

Where a short course of Losec (Omeprazole) or Zantac (Ranitidine) for 4-5 days does not control symptoms, or where a person's symptoms return immediately on stopping tablets, it is best to see a GP.

Losec (Omeprazole)

The starting dose of Losec is one 10mg capsule daily. This can be doubled to two 10mg capsules daily if symptoms are not controlled by the lower dose. Losec works best if taken daily for 4-5 days to settle symptoms down.

One or two 10mg Losec capsules daily can also be taken on an as required basis when symptoms flare up.

Zantac (Ranitidine)

Zantac is best taken at a dose of one 150mg tablet twice daily for 4-5 days to settle symptoms down.

Zantac 150mg tablets can also be taken once or twice daily on an as required basis when symptoms flare up.