Reflux meds OTC

And Sainsbury's Healthcare version is cheaper than the major branded products.

Dark chocolate (which I cannot resist) is a major problem. However, I keep a stock of any over-the-counter product that contains Esomeprazole. Wonder stuff!

Peppermint capsules are really good too.

I couldn't get on with PPIs so use silicolgel a couple of times a day and it seems to work well with no side effects.

I’m on Lansoprazole but I also get bottles of Pep-tac (mint) from the Doctors and apparently as its an algae I can more or less use what I want.

Some years ago an intern at the GP practice then changed my prescription to Omprazole from Lansoprazole. Had a very bad time resulting in time in hospital with kidney problems. Now back on Lansoprazole but not happy with this as now have Chronic kidney failure to add to probs i already have. So want of Lansoprazole too. Hoping to see doc next week. So just be very careful with the prazole family please?

The best solution I found was to avoid the foods that made it worse. They include tomatoes, tomato juice and even the sauce on baked beans, oranges and orange juice and some forms of alcohol.

After a while I found I could tolerate very small amounts of some of them.

Gaviscon has been used for such a long time and can be bought OTC. There was a cancer scare with Ranitidine in about 2018 and it was withdrawn from use.

One problem with any OTC medication is that users can take it for a long time and put off going to the GP and maybe a serious situation is left too late.

Is gaviscon safe ? We had some alarming press here about links with cancer but then there are a lot of false alarms around so I really don’t know.

I have Gaviscon on prescription.
Why not have a chat with your
Doctor? It is 15 pound a bottle to buy so worth a G P visit!

Try famotidine...its a H2 blocker...completely different to the ppis...worked great for me

Hiatus hernia is very common as we age, as long as it's not a really large one reflux meds are usually preferred to surgery in middle-aged patients, I guess the risk / benefit is better with medication than surgery.

Not allowed turmeric either Grandmattie, blood thinners, yes I have a hernia agnurse diagnosed by the old camera down the throat, hence the drugs on prescription.

Not allowed turmeric sadly my consultant told me grandmattie thank you everyone I will try Gaviscon Advance x

This may sound to be a goofy question, but do you have an allergy issues? Some people can develop what is termed eosinophilic esophagitis (eosinophils are a type of white blood cell that can be elevated in people who have frequent allergic reactions, as well as people who have worm infestations, although I expect that wouldn't be too common in the UK). If people have chronic allergic reactions these eosinophils can cause chronic inflammation of the esophagus. I'd also recommend being checked for a hiatal hernia (hole in the diaphragm where the esophagus goes through is larger than normal, so the stomach starts to slide upward; it can cause heartburn and can be corrected surgically, often with keyhole surgery) if your provider has not already done so.

I used Omeprazole for years, then discovered turmeric pills. Magic!

“Prazoles* are not intended for long term use, they can cause other problems.

Gaviscon advance 500 ml at Boots is cheaper than 2 x 250ml bottles at Superdrug. But if your GP appt is soon a smaller bottle to try it out would be a good idea.

As said above it comes in tablets and I think in liquid. DH used to be very happy on Ranitidine for several years, but that was taken off the market due to a cancer scare with one of the constituents.
He went on to Famotidine which was not as good and then the '"ozoles" but finds Gaviscon Advance helpful. He was prescribed it.
My sister in law now knows she has to lose weight and also change her diet. But you sound as though you are doing everything right. Give Gaviscon Adv a go. I find Superdrug prices are good....not sure if they do Gaviscon but worth looking on line in case they do and if they work I am sure the GP will prescribe them.

P.S. I take the liquid. I think it’s more soothing than the tablets.

Go for Acidex Advance, same constituents as Gaviscon Advance but a lot cheaper.

I’ve tried the PPIs - I think they actually made the reflux worse.

So now I take a spoonful of Gaviscon Advance before bed and (touch wood) am so much better.

A couple of tips:
* make sure it’s the Gaviscon Advance, not the regular one.
* make sure it’s the very last thing that passes your lips before bed - nothing else after the Gaviscon.

Hope things improve for you. Reflux can be truly miserable.

Gaviscon Advance is excellent though expensive if your GP won’t prescribe it.

I can’t take anything in the ‘prazole’ family, hence Famotidine 20mg twice a day.

Yes HelterSkelter I’ve tried both of those ppi’s didn’t help at all maybe I should try Gaviscon advance, is that liquid or tabs please?