List of Gastric Acid Medications for GERD & Ulcer (Natural and Medical) | Good Doctor
Stomach discomfort, heartburn, nausea, bloating to a burning feeling in the chest after eating can be a sign or symptom of a stomach acid problem. You can try to overcome it with natural stomach acid drugs.
This natural remedy can be herbal or derived from other home ingredients that are easily available. Here’s the complete list!
Definition of stomach acid
Stomach acid is a liquid produced by our stomach. Stomach acid is useful for digesting the food we swallow. Many don’t know, even though it causes pain if it’s excessive, stomach acid actually also has benefits for the body.
Without stomach acid, the nutrients contained in food cannot be absorbed. That’s why we need stomach acid in a balanced condition.
Definition of stomach ulcers
When our body experiences a disturbance in the production of stomach acid, the body will produce excess stomach acid. Gastric fluid can rise into the esophagus, this condition is known as GERD.
Gastric acid pain can occur because the valve between the esophagus and stomach doesn’t work properly, causing stomach acid to rise up into the esophagus.
Symptoms of stomach acid pain
Typical signs and symptoms of gastric pain are:
- Sour and bitter taste on the tongue.
- Heartburn or burning sensation in the pit of the stomach that is felt up to the chest area.
Both of these specific symptoms occur after eating or while lying down. In addition, both symptoms can occur repeatedly. These symptoms will greatly interfere with our activities.
In addition to the symptoms above, there are usually accompanying symptoms that can be experienced when a person has stomach pain, namely:
- Bloating.
- Nauseous.
- Get full quickly.
- Burp frequently.
- Hypersalivation or excess saliva production.
- Often experience dizziness.
- Throat problems, such as pain, hoarseness, or sore throat.
- Bad breath.
- Erosion of teeth.
Causes of gastric acid pain
Stomach acid pain can happen to anyone, and affects various age groups. Generally, acid reflux disease is suffered by the age group of 30-40 years. This can be caused because as we age the production of saliva in our body will decrease.
Saliva itself can help the body to neutralize stomach acid in the esophagus. However, everyone certainly has a different sensitivity to stomach acid.
For this reason, your usual diet and lifestyle can also affect the sensitivity of your stomach to produce stomach acid.
Prevention of stomach ulcers
Unknowingly, some habits cause us to experience stomach acid. So, so that we don’t experience it, you can prevent it by changing the habits that encourage increased stomach acid.
- Don’t lie down after eating.
- Avoid lifting heavy things.
- Avoid tight clothing, especially in the waist area.
- Elevate the head ± 15-20 cm / keep the head elevated when lying down.
- Lose weight if the patient is obese.
- Make it a habit to eat dinner 2-3 hours before going to bed.
- Don’t eat too full.
- Avoid fatty foods.
- Avoid foods that can stimulate stomach acid production such as chocolate, caffeinated drinks, alcohol and fatty foods, sour foods and spicy foods.
- Do not smoke.
Natural stomach acid remedy:
When experiencing stomach acid, we are instantly helpless, because of the discomfort that arises. Apparently, there are several ingredients that we can easily get to treat our stomach pain, both traditional medicine and pharmacy medicine.
Some natural ingredients that can be used to treat stomach acid pain, including:
1. Basil
Basil leaves can be used as an ulcer medicine or GERD medicine. Basil leaves contain antioxidants that can be used to treat stomach ulcers. Basil leaves can also absorb germs and toxic elements, besides that basil can protect the stomach.
2. Turmeric
Turmeric is believed since ancient times to have properties to heal wounds. This herb can be used as a GERD drug or stomach acid drug because it can inhibit stomach ulcers with the same mechanism of action as histamine H2 receptor-blocker drugs.
3. Bananas
Who would have thought that this yellow-skinned fruit can be used as a stomach acid remedy. Apparently, bananas have long been a traditional medicine in India to treat ulcer patients accompanied by peptic ulcers. You do this by making bananas into powder.
Bananas can form a strong barrier between the stomach and acids. This is because bananas have a low pH so they can neutralize acid in the stomach and help relieve symptoms.
4. Peppermint oil
Traditionally peppermint oil can be used as a natural stomach acid remedy, because it is believed to relieve various symptoms such as nausea, indigestion and stomach problems.
Several studies have stated that peppermint oil can be used in patients with stomach acid to relieve their symptoms.
However, what we need to remember is not to use antacids and peppermint oil together because it can increase the risk heartburn.
5. Aloe vera
Not only is it good for hair, it turns out that aloe vera can also be used as a GERD medicine or ulcer medicine, you know.
Much research has been done on the ability of aloe vera gel to prove that aloe vera gel can heal wounds, ulcers and burns.
The main ingredients in aloe vera are glucomannan and acemannan. Glucomannan plays a role in replacing skin tissue and reducing pain due to injuries. Acemannan can accelerate wound healing.
In addition, the water content in aloe vera gel can increase the healing of wounds, including wounds in the stomach which cause an increase in stomach acid.
GERD medicine and ulcer medicine at the pharmacy
According to Medical News Today, GERD and ulcers can be treated with relatively the same drugs. Apart from using natural ingredients, you can also buy ulcer medicines or GERD medicines that are sold in pharmacies, including:
1. PPIs
PPIs reduce stomach acid and are stronger than H-2 receptor antagonists. Examples are Aciphex, Nexium, Prevacid, Prilosec, Protonix, and Zegerid.
2. H2 antagonists
H2 antagonists are drugs that work to inhibit the formation of stomach acid, so that they can relieve pain in patients with acid reflux disease.
3. Prokinetic drugs
In addition to the two classes of PPI drugs and histamine 2 blockers, people with gastric acid can also be given a prokinetic drug.
This drug is a class of drugs that can function to speed up the process of emptying the stomach, thereby reducing the production of stomach acid and stomach acid cannot rise up into the esophagus.
Drugs belonging to the class of prokinetics is metoclopramide.
4. Treatment with antacids
This medicine can be used if you suffer from gastric acid but are still in the mild category. In addition, it can also be combined with drugs from the PPI group for maintenance therapy.
Remember, to always read the information about the drugs we take carefully. Read the information regarding dosage, how to use and interactions that may occur on the drug information label.
Foods to avoid
Taking ulcer drugs or GERD drugs alone is not enough to deal with rising stomach acid. You should also avoid some foods and drinks that can make your symptoms worse heartburn. The list of foods and drinks includes:
- Chocolate
- Fruit and orange juice
- Alcohol
- Caffeine
- Carbonated drinks
- Tomatoes and all tomato-based foods
- Spicy food
- Garlic
- Fried food
- Fatty food
Some of these foods can increase stomach acidity and irritate the esophagus.
Those are things related to gastric acid that we need to know. Even though it is not classified as a deadly disease, you should not underestimate it because it can cause complications.
Check your gastric health at the Ulcer Clinic with our doctor partners.
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