One way to treat gastroesophageal reflux is to decrease the acidity of the stomach contents so that it doesn’t damage your esophagus. So, if the reflux is less acidic, it will burn less and cause fewer symptoms.
The drugs that can be used are antacids, acid production inhibitors, stomach protectors and gastric emptying accelerators.
- The most commonly used antacids to neutralize hydrochloric acid in the stomach are aluminum hydroxide.
- Magnesium hydroxide and baking soda.
- These remedies are bases that react with acids.
- Reducing their toxic potential and leading to water and salt.
Antacids are not used as often because they are not as effective and because there is the possibility of a rebound effect, i.e. the person improves immediately, but there may be a worsening.
The most common side effects of these medications are constipation, which is caused by aluminum salts, or diarrhea caused by antacids that contain magnesium, as they cause an osmotic effect on the gut. To minimize these side effects, the most commonly used antacids are the combinations of magnesium hydroxide and aluminum.
Acid production inhibitors are the most commonly used remedies in the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease and can inhibit this production in two ways:
These are the main remedies used in the treatment of diseases related to increased gastric acid secretion. The most commonly used are omeprazole, pantoprazole, esomeprazole and rabeprazole, which interfere with the proton pump by inhibiting the production of hydrochloric acid in the stomach.
The most common side effects that can occur when using these medications are headache, diarrhea, rashes, abdominal pain, flatulence, nausea and constipation.
These drugs inhibit the secretion of histamine-induced acid and gastrin and the most commonly used are cimetidine, nizatidine and famotidine.
The most common side effects caused by the use of these medications are diarrhea, headache, drowsiness, fatigue, muscle pain and constipation.
When the stomach is very full, gastroesophageal reflux is more likely to occur. Thus, to avoid this, gastrointestinal motility can be stimulated with protinious remedies such as metoclopramide, domperidone or cisapride that help gastric emptying, thus decreasing the time that food remains in the stomach, preventing reflux.
The most common side effects that can occur when using metoclopramide are drowsiness, weakness, restlessness, low blood pressure and diarrhea. In addition, although rarely, gastrointestinal disorders may occur with the use of domperidone and cisapride.
Gastric protectors can also be used to treat gastroesophageal reflux, which protects the esophagus and prevents burns when the contents of the stomach pass into the esophagus.
In general, the body has a mechanism in which it produces a mucus that protects the lining of the stomach, preventing the acid from attacking it, but in some medical conditions and with the use of certain medications, the production of this mucus can decrease and cause aggression of the mucous membrane. Gastric protectors that can be used to replace this mucus are sucralfate and bismuth salts that improve the defense mechanisms of the stomach and form a protective barrier in the stomach and esophagus.
The most common side effects caused by bismuth salts are darkening of stool, dizziness, headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and psychotic disorders.
Sucralfate is generally well tolerated and its main side effect is constipation. However, it can also cause dry mouth, nausea, vomiting, headaches and rashes.
There are also home remedies that can contribute to the success of treatment. Find out which ones are the most commonly used.