Is Gaviscon really safe for my acid reflux? Does it actually do what it claims to do? Are there any better alternatives?
After reading this article, you will be more knowledgeable and gain a deeper insight on the main concerns and questions that patients often ask when taking Gaviscon for their GERD, acid reflux or heartburn.
What is the main purpose of Gaviscon and how is it supposed to help?
The generic name of this drug is basically aluminum with magnesium hydroxide. In essence, it is an antacid that can help treat acid ingestion, heartburn, peptic ulcers, hiatal hernias, as well as reflux esophagitis. It simply neutralizes the stomach acid, while at the same time produces a viscous material which floats on the stomach content. This material acts as a barrier to avoid reflux of acidic content. It also claims to help in the treatment of other forms of stomach ulcers and can prevent them from bleeding.
What are the main precautions before I take this drug?
1. Although it is an over the counter (OTC) drug which you can easily get in most drugstores, it is best to get a doctor's recommendation. Especially if you are a pregnant or breast feeding mother. Be careful that you are not allergic to any of its ingredients or such containing aluminum or magnesium.
2. Inform the doctor if you or any member of your family had or has kidney, liver disease or appendicitis.
3. You should not take Gaviscon for your GERD if you are old and suffering from Alzheimer's.
4. This drug might change the effects on some other medication that you are taking, so again - best to consult first with your doctor. A hard list includes nizoral, mandelamine, rifamate and tetracycline antibiotics. And even if these other meds are non-prescribed or consist of vitamins or food supplements, you still need your doctor's advice.
What are the complications or side effects that I should be well aware of?
If you follow the above precautions well, the only things that you need to remind yourself of when you take this drug are that it might cause dizziness and therefore, you should not drive or operate heavy machinery after taking it.
The common side effects include "dizziness, drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, dry mouth and diarrhea", of which if any of these occur while taking Gaviscon, you should notify your doctor immediately.
Is there an overdose to this?
Definitely, just like all drugs do. Use only the recommended dosage and if you think you had an overdose, contact your doctor immediately. Overdose symptoms include "drowsiness, dizziness, stomach problems, weakness, fatigue, nausea, vomiting and loss of consciousness". Never take a double dose at a time.
What is the most important thing to remember about Gaviscon and my GERD?
As it is an antacid, it should not be taken any longer than 2 weeks or larger doses than the ones recommended. All antacids (chewable or liquid form) should only be used for temporary relief of acid reflux or heartburn symptoms.
Is it still OK to take Gaviscon even if I accidentally refrigerated it?
A lot of first-timers in this drug are prone to doing this without paying attention to the fine print. Can't blame them though as it's often too small and crowded with the other text to be noticed. But the answer is yes, it is still ok... if it was just in the refrigerator for a few days or for storage purposes. It's best not to repeat it though.
The only reason why it's there in the label is because most pills are always stored in a cool and dry place. The fridge is just darn cold. It can become a problem if you put a bottle with warm air inside it. What will happen is the humidity in the air will condense. And every time you take it out and put it back in, you're doing nothing but putting more moisture in the bottle. In the process of time, the moisture may affect the pills or the liquid and affect its consistency.
Are there any better alternative to Gaviscon?
Gaviscon, along with other usual prescriptive medication for GERD, acid reflux or heartburn, should normally be taken in emergency purposes only. If you want to have long-lasting relief and even cure your condition, then conventional methods are not going to be of any help to you at all. This is because it is nothing more but a "band-aid" approach which focuses on masking the symptoms, instead of centering on the root cause.
Just take a look at all the side effects, precautions, warnings on overdosage, and important things to remember about Gaviscon, and you're obviously intelligent enough to know that if you're not careful, you can easily create another disease or health problem in your body because of this drug.
Going natural is still the best option and there are many ways to do it, right from the comfort of your own home. Best of all these methods are cheaper and safer, in comparison to what you have been used to taking for your reflux.
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