Indigestion medicines
Published by Bupa's health information team, June 2009.
This factsheet is for people who are taking indigestion medicines, or who would like information about them.
The stomach produces acid to digest food, but sometimes stomach acid causes discomfort in the form of indigestion and heartburn. Indigestion medicines work on the stomach to relieve these symptoms.
- Why should I take indigestion medicines?
- What are the main types of indigestion medicines?
- How do indigestion medicines work?
- How to take indigestion medicines
- Special care
- Side-effects of indigestion medicines
- Interactions of indigestion medicines with other medicines
- Names of common indigestion medicines
- Questions and answers
- Related topics
- Further information
- Sources
Why should I take indigestion medicines?
Indigestion is the pain and discomfort in your upper abdomen or chest that can develop after a meal. You might feel a burning sensation in your chest, known as heartburn. One of the causes of indigestion is your stomach acids (which digest your food) leaking back into your oesophagus (the pipe that goes from your mouth to your stomach) and causing irritation. Doctors call this backflow or acid reflux, and the condition is called gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD). Other problems that can cause indigestion and heartburn include hiatus hernia and infection with bacteria called Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori).
What are the main types of indigestion medicines?
There are three main types of medicine for indigestion and GORD:
- antacids and alginates
- H2-blockers
- proton pump inhibitors
How do indigestion medicines work?
The three types of medicines for indigestion work in different ways.
Antacids and alginates
Antacids usually contain aluminium or magnesium. These are alkalis, which work by neutralising stomach acid.
Alginates, such as sodium alginate, are another common ingredient of indigestion remedies. These work by forming a protective coating over the walls of the stomach and oesophagus.
Some indigestion medicines contain both antacids and alginates, and other ingredients such as calcium (a less commonly used antacid), simeticone (for wind and bloating) and peppermint oil (for wind and bloating, especially in people with irritable bowel syndrome).
H2-blockers
A chemical called histamine (produced naturally by the body) causes cells in the stomach to make acid. H2-blockers stop histamine from working on these cells and so lower the amount of acid produced in your stomach.
Proton pump inhibitors
The proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) work by completely blocking the production of stomach acid. They do this by shutting down (inhibiting) a system in the stomach known as the proton pump. PPIs are used for treating:
- heartburn symptoms caused by acid reflux
- H. pylori infections (in combination with antibiotics)
- peptic ulcers
How to take indigestion medicines
Antacids and alginates
Antacids come as tablets, capsules, liquids or powders. Liquid and powder preparations are more effective than tablets and capsules but they may be less convenient to carry around.
Antacid-containing medicines are best taken when you get, or expect to get, indigestion symptoms. This is usually about an hour after a meal and when you go to bed.
Always read the patient information leaflet that comes with your medicine and if you have any questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice.
H2-blockers
You can buy some H2-blockers from your pharmacist without a prescription. Your GP may prescribe medicines from this group in stronger doses and for longer courses for digestive problems such as GORD and ulcers.
H2-blockers come as tablets. To relieve indigestion, you should take a tablet as soon as you get symptoms. You shouldn't take the tablets for more than two weeks and you must not take more than the maximum dose recommended on the packet. This will usually be two or four tablets per day, depending on the brand.
Always read the patient information leaflet that comes with your medicine and if you have any questions, ask your GP or pharmacist for advice.
Proton pump inhibitors
You can buy omeprazole from your pharmacist without a prescription. You should take two 10mg tablets whole, with plenty of liquid, before a meal. It works best if you take them once a day for three or four days. This gives the medicine time to work on stopping your stomach making acid. You can use this medicine for 28 days - if your symptoms continue for longer than this, you should ask your GP for advice.
When prescribed by your GP, PPIs treat stomach and duodenal ulcers. They are also used to relieve symptoms of GORD, and as part of the treatment to get rid of H. pylori infection.
Always read the patient information leaflet that comes with your medicine and if you have any questions, ask your GP or pharmacist for advice.
Special care
Use indigestion remedies with care if you have liver or kidney problems, if you're pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you're on a salt-restricted diet.
Side-effects of indigestion medicines
Side-effects are the unwanted, but mostly mild and temporary effects of a successful treatment.
Antacids containing magnesium tend to have a laxative action, whereas those containing aluminium may cause constipation. Magnesium carbonate can cause belching due to carbon dioxide gas being released in the stomach.
Side-effects of H2-blockers and PPIs can include:
- diarrhoea or constipation
- feeling sick or vomiting
- wind
- stomach ache
- headache
- dizziness
- tiredness
Interactions of indigestion medicines with other medicines
Check with your GP or pharmacist before you take any other medicines or herbal remedies at the same time as an indigestion treatment. Be aware that antacids can affect how your body absorbs other medicines.
Names of common indigestion medicines
Examples of the main types of indigestion medicines are shown in the table.
You may have noticed that your medicine has two or more names. All medicines have a generic name, which is its official medical name. Many medicines also have at least one brand name, which is the trade name. Generic names are written in lower case and brand names start with a capital letter.
| Generic names | Examples of common brand names |
|---|---|
H2-blockers (over-the-counter) |
|
cimetidine |
Tagamet |
ranitidine |
Zantac |
famotidine |
Pepcid AC and Boots Excess Acid Control, Pepcidtwo |
nizatidine |
unbranded |
H2-blockers (prescription-only) |
|
nizatidine |
Axid |
Proton pump inhibitors (over-the-counter) |
|
omeprazole |
Losec |
Proton pump inhibitors (prescription-only) |
|
omeprazole |
Losec |
esomeprazole |
Nexium |
lansoprazole |
Zoton |
pantoprazole |
Protium |
rabeprazole |
Pariet |
Examples of popular combination remedies |
|
antacids and alginates |
Algicon |
Andrews Antacid |
|
Gastrocote |
|
Gaviscon |
|
Maalox Plus |
|
Rennies |
|
Wind-eze |
|
Names of common indigestion medicines
Indigestion medicines Q&As
See our answers to common questions about indigestion medicines, including:
Related topics
Further information
- electronic Medicines Compendium
www.emc.medicines.org.uk
Sources
- Joint Formulary Committee, British National Formulary. 56th ed. London: British Medical Association and Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, 2008:37-48
- Dyspepsia: management of dyspepsia in adults in primary care. National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), 2004, Clinical Guideline 17. www.nice.org.uk
- Consolidated list of substances which are present in authorised products which have been reclassified since 1 April 2002. Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. www.mhra.gov.uk, accessed 17 October 2008
This information was published by Bupa's health information team and is based on reputable sources of medical evidence. It has been peer reviewed by Bupa doctors. The content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.
Publication date: June 2009
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