Gastroesophageal reflux consists of the return of stomach contents through the esophagus, towards the mouth, which can cause discomfort, pain and inflammation, due to the acidity of the gastric contents.
Thus, one of the ways to treat this problem is to use drugs that reduce the acidity of the stomach, making the reflux less frequent and aggressive to the mucosa.
The most used remedies are:
1. Antacids
Antacids are medicines that neutralize the hydrochloric acid present in the stomach, such as aluminum hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide and sodium bicarbonate, which quickly relieve acidity by converting acid into water and salt.
However, although they are quite effective, these remedies should be used sporadically because they can cause a rebound effect and make the situation worse.
2. Acid production inhibitors
These are the drugs that are most often prescribed and work by inhibiting acid production. Some examples of these remedies are omeprazole , pantoprazole , esomeprazole, rabeprazole , ranitidine , famotidine , among others.
These medications are usually taken for a longer period of time.
3. Motility Accelerators
These medicines work by accelerating the emptying of the stomach, which, if it is full for less time, there is less chance of reflux.
Some examples of drugs that accelerate gastrointestinal motility are domperidone and cisapride , however they should be used with caution, due to the side effects they can cause.
4. Stomach protectors
The gastric protectors that can be used to replace this mucus are sucralfate and bismuth salts that potentiate the stomach’s defense mechanisms and form a protective barrier in the stomach and esophagus.
These remedies should only be used after a proper diagnosis and if recommended by the doctor.
