GERD Medication

There are of course numerous over the counter medications that can be taken to help control your heartburn. Rolaids, Tums, pepcid and other otc meds may help the person who suffers from occasional heartburn, but for those with full blown GERD, these type of medicines just do not cut it. I myself am currently taking 20 mg of Prilosec once a day and this works very effectively for me. I have been on this medication for the better part of 7 years now and as far as I am concerned, I will gladly take it for the rest of my life if it keeps the heartburn away. I absolutely have to take a pill as soon as I wake up or else my heartburn will quickly set in and remind me that I forgot to take it. I can basically eat and drink anything I want ..... as long as I take my prilosec.

For a time period, I was actually taking 40 mg of Previcad. This was due to my insurance coverage at this time, but as far as I could tell, 40 mg of Previcad worked just as well as 20 mg of Prilosec, I guess it just depends on what your insurance will or will not pay for.

As far as side effects, I personally have never experienced any from either medication, but again, this may differ by individual. The pills are not are addictive in nature like pain pills or anything like that. Basically, they work as a time release and they stop the stomach acid from being able to travel up the esophagus, thus preventing heartburn pain.