Acid Reflux / Heartburn Treatments
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The doctors at Simple Online Pharmacy can prescribe Omeprazole and other treatments for acid reflux. Acid Reflux (Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD)) is a digestive condition that occurs in around 20% of the population in the UK. It can affect people of all ages, including children, however, it is most common in adults over 40. It is also more common amongst men than women. Acid reflux occurs when stomach acid leaks out of the stomach and into the gullet. This can cause a burning sensation to occur in the upper chest area and a bad taste at the back of your throat. Acid reflux is most commonly caused by the weakening of the lower sphincter muscles of the gullet. Omeprazole is one of the most common treatments for the condition. You should take the dosage that has previously been determined by your GP. Once you have completed the online doctor consultation, our doctor will review your assessment and prescribe the selected medication if appropriate. Our pharmacy will then dispense and dispatch your prescription to your door. When ordering medication online, always make sure you are ordering from a trusted online pharmacy and online doctor in the UK
Acid Reflux / Heartburn treatment options
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Order within for guaranteed next day delivery options
Order within for guaranteed next day delivery options
Order within for guaranteed next day delivery options
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Overview
What is Acid Reflux/Heartburn?
Acid reflux, also known as heartburn, occurs when stomach acid or bile travels up the gullet (oesophagus) towards the mouth. This can cause a burning sensation in the chest and other symptoms. If acid reflux happens frequently, this is called gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD or GORD).
Acid reflux is very common in the UK and is thought to affect up to 25% of adults. In the US, between 7%-10% of the population experience symptoms on a daily basis. It is most common in people over 40 and is slightly more common in men than women.
It is common to have symptoms occasionally. However, if symptoms are severe or long-term they need to be investigated to rule out more serious conditions. If GERD is not controlled long-term it can cause serious complications.
Causes
Causes of acid reflux
Acid reflux is caused by a number of factors. It is most commonly caused when the oesophageal sphincter relaxes or weakens. The oesophageal sphincter is a ring of muscle that opens to let food pass into the stomach.
When this happens it allows acid made in the stomach to travel back up into the chest and throat. This is what causes the unpleasant burning sensation in acid reflux. A test exists called esophageal manometry which is used to assess the muscles of the oesophagus.
Other causes include delayed gastric emptying (meaning food stays in the stomach longer) and a hiatal hernia. A hiatal hernia (or hiatus hernia) is when part of your stomach moves up into your chest.
Some risk factors of acid reflux are:
- Pregnancy
- Smoking
- Being overweight or obese
- Stress and anxiety
- Taking certain medicines such as ibuprofen
- Excess alcohol consumption
Acid reflux is closely associated with eating and some food and drinks may trigger reflux:
- Caffeinated drinks such as coffee
- Alcohol
- Fizzy drinks
- Rich or fatty foods
- Spicy foods
- Citrus foods
- Chocolate
Treatments
Treatment of acid reflux
Lifestyle changes
People suffering from mild acid reflux should try to manage their symptoms with lifestyle changes first. The below list provides some tips people may find useful:
- Eat smaller, more frequent meals
- Reduce stress and anxiety
- Lose weight if you are overweight (check your BMI here)
- Eat the last meal of the day 3-4 hours before bedtime
- Aim to stop smoking or cut down
- Raise the head of the bed (by putting something underneath the mattress or frame) so the upper part of your chest is above the level of your waist
- Keep a food diary to help you find what foods trigger your reflux
- Avoid foods that you find trigger your reflux
Medication for acid reflux
Many treatments exist for acid reflux.
Over the counter treatments for acid reflux work by creating a barrier on top of the stomach. This barrier blocks the acid from travelling up the oesophagus towards the mouth, hence relieving the symptoms of heartburn. These treatments include:
People find taking medications like Gaviscon after meals and before bedtime is effective at treating symptoms. These medications generally have few side effects.
Other medications for acid reflux exist but are prescription-only medications. Two of the most common treatments, omeprazole and lansoprazole, are available on our website.
Once you have completed the online doctor consultation, our doctor will review your assessment and prescribe the selected medication if appropriate. Our pharmacy will then dispense and dispatch your prescription to your door.
Lansoprazole and omeprazole are drugs that reduce the amount of acid the stomach makes. They are in a class of drugs called proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). They are used to treat a number of conditions. PPIs are most often used to treat indigestion and heartburn/acid reflux.
The lining of the stomach contains proton pumps. These are involved in acid production and pump acid into the stomach to help digest food.
The PPIs block (inhibit) these proton pumps in the stomach. This reduces the amount of acid in the stomach and improves indigestion and heartburn symptoms.
Omeprazole and lansoprazole are very effective at reducing the amount of acid produced by the stomach. This makes them an effective treatment for acid reflux.
Read more about each treatment on the medicine pages or in 'Stop the burn'.
Symptoms
Symptoms of acid reflux
Symptoms are often worse after eating and/or when lying down or bending over.
The main symptoms are:
- A burning sensation in the middle of the chest often occurring after eating or when lying down.
- Regurgitation - stomach contents returning up towards the throat. This can leave an unpleasant sour taste in the mouth.
Because people can get a burning sensation or chest pain with acid reflux, a severe case can sometimes be mistaken for heart problems. If you have chest pain it is important to rule out heart problems with your doctor.
Although these are the main symptoms some people may suffer from other symptoms:
- A cough or hiccups that keep coming back
- Hoarseness (more likely in the morning)
- Bad breath
- Bloating or feeling nauseous
If people suffer from symptoms of GERD for a long time it can cause severe complications. These complications are mainly due to damage from the acid. The stomach is built to withstand the strong acid it produces but the oesophagus can be damaged by being repeatedly exposed to stomach acid.
This damage can lead to:
- Oesophageal ulcers
- Inflammation and irritation of the oesophagus called oesophagitis
- Barrett’s oesophagus
It is estimated that 1 in 10 people who suffer with GERD will get Barrett’s oesophagus after many years. This causes changes in the cells of the oesophagus and in some cases can eventually lead to esophageal cancer.
FAQ
Acid Reflux FAQ
What is Acid Reflux?
Is acid reflux dangerous?
How common is acid reflux?
What causes acid reflux?
How do you get rid of acid reflux?
When do I need to see a doctor?
How common is acid reflux?
Acid reflux occurs in about 1 in 5 of us, however, as we get older, the majority of us are likely to experience the symptoms of heartburn.
What else can help with acid reflux?
Acid reflux can become worse when eating fatty food, smoking, drinking caffeinated drinks and eating chocolate. Avoiding these may help reduce symptoms. Being overweight and stress have also been shown to make acid reflux more common.
When do I need to see a doctor about heartburn?
You should see your GP if you are having symptoms regularly, you have difficulty swallowing and if over the counter medications are not helping. If any of the following symptoms occur, seek medical advice: Persistent vomiting Vomiting blood Unexplained weight loss
Omeprazole
Medication | Simple Online Pharmacy |
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20mg x56 - Capsules | £15.95
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20mg x28 - Capsules | £10.95
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10mg x56 - Capsules | £14.95
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10mg x28 - Capsules | £8.95
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10mg x14 - Capsules | £5.95
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20mg x14 - Capsules | £6.95
|
Ranitidine 150mg Tablets
Medication | Simple Online Pharmacy |
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60 - Tablets (150mg) | £14.95
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30 Tablets (150mg) | £9.95
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Lansoprazole
Medication | Simple Online Pharmacy |
---|---|
15mg x28 | £16.95
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15mg x14 | £11.95
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30mg x14 | £12.95
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30mg x28 | £17.95
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15mg Orodispersible x28 | £24.95
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15mg Orodispersible x14 | £14.95
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30mg Orodispersible x14 | £16.95
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30mg Orodispersible x28 | £26.95
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15mg x56 | £29.99
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15mg Orodispersible x56 | £44.99
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30mg x56 | £34.99
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30mg Orodispersible x56 | £49.99
|
Losec
Medication | Simple Online Pharmacy |
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20mg x56 - Capsules | £32.99
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20mg x28 - Capsules | £18.99
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10mg x28 - Capsules | £14.99
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10mg x14 - Capsules | £8.99
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10mg x56 - Capsules | £28.99
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20mg x14 - Capsules | £10.99
|
Losec MUPS Tablets
Medication | Simple Online Pharmacy |
---|---|
20mg x28 - Tablets | £28.99
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20mg x14 - Tablets | £14.99
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20mg x56 - Tablets | £56.99
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Esomeprazole
Medication | Simple Online Pharmacy |
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20mg x14 | £13.50
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20mg x28 | £16.50
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20mg x56 | £19.50
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40mg x14 | £14.50
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40mg x28 | £17.50
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40mg x56 | £20.50
|
Pantoprazole
Medication | Simple Online Pharmacy |
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20mg x14 | £12.50
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20mg x28 | £18.50
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20mg x56 | £22.50
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40mg x14 | £13.50
|
40mg x28 | £19.50
|
40mg x56 | £23.50
|
Rabeprazole
Medication | Simple Online Pharmacy |
---|---|
10mg x14 | £11.50
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10mg x28 | £16.50
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10mg x56 | £19.50
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20mg x14 | £12.50
|
20mg x28 | £17.50
|
20mg x56 | £20.50
|
Famotidine
Medication | Simple Online Pharmacy |
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20mg x28 - Tablets | £29.99
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20mg x56 - Tablets | £60.95
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20mg x14 - Tablets | £15.99
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Acid Reflux / Heartburn Treatments Treatment Comparison
Omeprazole / Losec | Ranitidine / Zantac | |
Ingredient | Omeprazole 10 or 20mg | Ranitidine 150 or 300mg |
Mechanism of Action | PPI - reduces acid in stomach | H2 Blocker - reduces acid in stomach |
Common Side Effects | Diarrhoea, headache, nausea, and vomiting. | Diarrhoea, headache, nausea, and vomiting. |
Dosage | One tablet up to twice daily as required | One tablet up to twice daily as required |