Yes, Gaviscon is an effective and doctor-recommended treatment for acid reflux (also known as heartburn or GERD symptoms). It works by forming a protective barrier and, in some formulations, neutralizing stomach acid to provide fast and long-lasting relief.
Studies have shown that Gaviscon may reduce symptoms of heartburn in people with acid reflux and GERD. 3 For milder cases, Gaviscon may be used on its own. In addition to treating acid reflux, Gaviscon can prevent heartburn by reducing stomach acids after meals.
The proportion of patients achieving a first 24-h heartburn-free period was 105/120 (89.7%) in the Gaviscon® group, vs. 109/121 (90.1%) in the omeprazole group (p = 0.93).
Do not take Gaviscon within 2 hours before or after taking:
Can I drink alcohol if I'm taking Gaviscon? Alcohol does not affect the way Gaviscon works, but drinking alcohol makes your stomach produce more acid than normal. This can irritate your stomach lining and make your symptoms worse.
Food and beverages with strong acidity can trigger your symptoms, so it would be best to avoid drinks like ciders, white wines, and citrus cocktails. These can be substituted for spirits like gin and tequila which have low acidity.
8 People often have breakthrough acid reflux symptoms if they do not take their PPIs correctly. Talk to a healthcare provider if taking PPIs 30 minutes before your first meal does not help. You may need a second dose, taken 30 minutes before dinner.
If you get occasional mild heartburn or indigestion, only take Gaviscon when you need it. If you often have heartburn or indigestion, you can take Gaviscon up to 4 times a day. The best time to take it is after meals and at bedtime, whether you have symptoms or not.
Wait at least 2–3 hours before lying down or going to bed.
Most people who take it do not have any side effects. If you do get a side effect, it's likely to be mild and will go away when you stop taking Gaviscon. It's rare, but the ingredients in some types of Gaviscon may be more likely to make you feel sick or cause vomiting, constipation or diarrhoea.
Causes of heartburn and acid reflux
certain food and drink – such as coffee, tomatoes, alcohol, chocolate and fatty or spicy foods. being overweight. smoking.
Prescription-strength treatments for GERD include: Prescription-strength proton pump inhibitors. These include esomeprazole (Nexium), lansoprazole (Prevacid), omeprazole (Prilosec), pantoprazole (Protonix), rabeprazole (Aciphex) and dexlansoprazole (Dexilant).
Results: Compared with Gaviscon, Rennie alginate had a higher acid-neutralizing capacity, greater maximum pH and longer duration of antacid activity in vitro. However, the two products produced comparable alginate rafts at each pH evaluated.
Don't leave chronic heartburn untreated. Pain in your esophagus usually means it's being injured, and this can do real damage over time. Chronic heartburn may also be a sign of other problems that need treatment. See a healthcare provider about chronic heartburn.
If you have persistent heartburn or other symptoms of GERD, it is important to see your healthcare provider before you try to self-treat your condition. Although you can live a long life with GERD, GERD that remains untreated can lead to serious complications like esophageal ulcers or even cancer.
Call your doctor right away if you have severe chest pain, bloody or dark stools or emesis (vomit), unexplained weight loss, trouble swallowing or a feeling that food is trapped, or a sensation of acid refluxed into the windpipe causing shortness of breath, coughing or hoarseness of the voice.
Here are some indications that it's time to call a gastroenterologist: Symptoms that continue for more than two weeks. Heartburn that persists after taking over-the-counter medications. Heartburn episodes that change in frequency or intensity.