Skip to content
WebMD: Better information. Better health.
 
Other search tools:Symptoms|Doctors|Medical Dictionary

Heartburn/GERD Health Center

Font Size
A
A
A

Remedies for Heartburn

What Are the Treatments for Heartburn?

Most doctors advocate antacids for occasional heartburn. Sometimes, more potent or long-term antacid prescription medications may be needed. Occasionally, surgery is recommended to prevent reflux and heartburn. The primary objective is to identify the cause of the heartburn so it can be avoided in the future.

Over-the-counter antacids are commonly prescribed to neutralize stomach acid. If antacids don't quell the symptoms, your doctor may recommend an over-the-counter heartburn drug such as Pepcid AC, Tagamet HR, Axid AR, or Zantac 75.

Recommended Related to Heartburn/GERD

Treatment Tips for Occasional Heartburn Sufferers

You eat a big meal out, late at night. You indulge in seconds and then thirds, have a few too many glasses of wine or cups of coffee, and then go to bed on a full stomach. Wake up a few hours later, and the pain is screaming upward from your chest into your throat. You groan: Sleep is impossible. You finally roll over, get out of bed, and stumble to the medicine cabinet. What can you do to stop heartburn fast?

Read the Treatment Tips for Occasional Heartburn Sufferers article > >

If heartburn symptoms persist, your doctor can turn to drugs such as Prevacid, Prilosec, Zegerid ,Nexium, Protonix, Kapidex, or Aciphex to reduce the stomach's production of acid, or Reglan to make the stomach empty itself faster.

When all else fails, surgery may be required to repair the lower esophageal sphincter. This surgery can now be done using a laparoscope and requires only a short hospital stay.

WebMD Medical Reference

Reviewed by Venkat Mohan, MD on March 01, 2010

Today in Heartburn/GERD

Heartburn illustration
Slideshow
Heartburn Control Assess Your Symptoms
Assessment
 
heartburn foods
Slideshow
Nighttime Heartburn
Article
 
digestive health
Slideshow
Heartburn or Heart Attack
Video
 
heartburn
Article
Top 10 Heartburn Foods
Article
 
Is it Heartburn or Gerd
Video
digestive myths
Slideshow
 
Extreme Eats
Slideshow
graphic of esophageal area
Article