Indigestion

Indigestion is very common. About one in 3 people get heartburn every month and one in ten suffer every week. No wonder that indigestion remedies are the most popularly prescribed group of medicines in the UK!

For most people, indigestion is a nuisance but is not dangerous. In only a small minority does it cause more serious problems.

Helping Yourself

There are some simple things you can do to minimise your indigestion symptoms:

• Don't eat late at night. Leave at least 2 hours between eating and going to bed
• Avoid large meals
• Avoid COFFEE, CHOCOLATE, ALCOHOL, FIZZY DRINKS, CITRUS and FATTY FOODS. Some people say that they need to avoid tomatoes also

Sounds miserable? Try taking pills!

Medicines for Indigestion

Over the counter medicines such as Gaviscon Advance can help immediately when you get an attack of heartburn, chest pain, coughing or choking. They do not help prevent acid reflux happening though.

More powerful medicines to prevent reflux need to be taken regularly. The most commonly used ones are proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) such as omeprazole, lansoprazole, pantorpazole, rabeprazole or the most powerful one on the market which is currently esomeprazole. These are best taken before meals and can be taken twice a day for more potent effect.

Ranitidine or similar drugs may be taken at night to minimise the risk of nighttime reflux.