People who havesymptomsof acid reflux or heartburn more than twice a week may be living with GERD.
Treating GERD often includes changes to diet and lifestyle, but medications are also sometimes needed.
Verywell / Jessica Olah
Medications
GERD may be treatedwith a variety of medications.
Verywell / Jessica Olah
There are both prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs available.
More than one drug may be needed at the same time (called combination therapy) to control symptoms.
Antacids
Antacids are commonly used to treat heartburn.
They work to neutralize stomach acid.
These medications work to treat the symptoms by blocking the production of stomach acid.
With less stomach acid, there may be fewer symptoms of GERD.
A PPI may be prescribed by a medical professional, but some forms are available over the counter.
There are several different PPIs available to treat GERD.
This process reduces acid overall and may help reduce the symptoms of GERD.
There are currently two H2 blockers approved for treating GERD.
NDMA is thought to cause cancer in humans.
A new formulation containing the H2 blocker famotidine is available under the brand name Zantac 360.
Laboratory testing found NDMA in samples of Zantac.
A strong LES helps prevent GERD from developing.
Prokinetic agents include:
OTC vs.
Prescription Drugs
Many of the medications for GERD began as prescription-only drugs before being made available over the counter.
It’s important to involve a healthcare professional in decisions about taking drugs to treat symptoms of GERD.
One reason is that undertreating GERD could lead to other long-term problems.
Even commonly used OTC remedies like antacids can affect other medications and supplements.
One other reason for seeking a prescription might be the cost.
Combining over-the-counter remedies isn’t recommended.
A Word From Verywell
GERD has different causes and its management needs to be tailored.
Treating it effectively is important to avoid progression to more serious problems.
Management focuses largely on improving symptoms and might be needed on a long-term basis.
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