There are different ways available to treat heartburn. How can you judge if the heartburn medication that is out there is suitable for you? First of all you have to be aware of the severity of your heartburn. You should consult a doctor who can tell you about the severity of your condition and can propose different medications that might be of help to you.
Types of heartburn medication
There are many types of prescription heartburn medications that you can get. A few of those medications however may have side effects like lowering the strength of the LES. Therefore you should be careful when deciding on which medicine to use against acid reflux. It is always a good idea to consult your physician regarding the side effects before you start a course of treatment against acid reflux with these medications.
Prescription medications include the anti-spasmotics like Librax, Levsin and Bentyl. The calcium channel blockers Cardizem, Procardia, Isoptin and Calan are types of heartburn medication that can affect the LES muscle's effectiveness. The other medications that produce side effects for the LES are the anti-depressants Doxepia and Elavil amongst others.
If you are deciding on which medication against heartburn to take you have the choice between drugs that can reduce or totally eliminate the production of high levels of excess acidity in your stomach. These medications are in general said to have the ability to increase the strength of the Lower Esophageal Sphincter. With the excess stomach acid production being stopped the chances of acid refluxing into the esophagus is less and therefore the risk of suffering from heartburn attacks decreases.
Unfortunately, these drugs are known to contain certain adverse side effects, too. Therefore you have to decide it is still beneficial for you to take medication and be free of heartburn if you then suffer of side effects, too. There was even the case of a heartburn drug called Propulsid which was taken off the market because it is known to have cardiac side effects.
Surgical and non-surgical heartburn treatment
Another way of treating heartburn is via surgery. The objective of heartburn surgery is to strengthen the LES muscle. A successful surgery can greatly relieve and correct severe acid reflux and heartburn. This surgery is called the Laparoscopic Technique. In this technique the surgery is accomplished through tiny holes incised in the belly button and the upper abdomen. Heartburn patients who use this method experience a quick recovery with this technique.
However, there are also newer, nonsurgical endosopic methods available that help you to get rid of your heartburn condition. There is the EndoCinch and the NDO Plicator method available on the market nowaday.
The NDO Plicator is another suturing method whereby the LES valve is tightened. Through this stomach acid reflux is reduced.
The EndoCinch is also referred to as the endoscopic fundoplication or endoluminal gastroplication technique. This technique involves the use of a sewing device that is attached to the end of the video endoscope. This instrument lets the endoscopist carefully place stitches in the stomach below the LES. Then a row of stitches produces a pleat in the upper part of your stomach. This reduces the pressure against the LES and also the acid reflux. General anesthesia is not used, there are no surgical incisions made, and recovery for the patient is quicker.
Both of these techniques are generally effective in reducing or eliminating heartburn and its symptoms. However, you should always check with your doctor fist which type of heartburn medication or heartburn treatment method is the best for you. It is certain however that any of these methods can greatly improve the quality of your life by reducing heartburn pain.