Heartburn Relief Options
Just like how people experience heartburn differently, they treat it differently, too. Some take medications for heartburn relief, while others take medication to prevent heartburn. There are a variety of over-the-counter (OTC) heartburn medication options available which generally fall into three categories: Antacids, Histamine 2 Blockers and Proton Pump Inhibitors.
See how they work differently to help you manage heartburn, then compare their benefits using the chart below.
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Visual: What’s the Difference Between All of the Heartburn Medications? Sponsored content produced for Zantac 360 Degrees
Hi, I’m Dr. Janese Laster, a board certified Gastroenterologist, and today I am here to help you understand some of your heartburn medication options
You have three main kinds of heartburn medications to choose from: Antacids, PPIs, and H2 blockers.
Visual: Antacids, PPIs and H2 Blockers
Antacids, like Tums and Rolaids, act rapidly to neutralize stomach acid, but have a short duration and cannot prevent heartburn. They also aren’t as potent as the other medications, so the acid control doesn’t last very long.
Visual: Antacids neutralize acid but have a short duration of action
PPIs, like Prilosec and Nexium, reduce your body’s stomach acid production, but you have to take them before you eat every morning for 14 days. They can’t help you right when symptoms start.
Visual: PPIs reduce your stomach’s acid production, but they are not intended for immediate relief* *Based on product labeling, PPIs may take 1 to 4 days for full effect
[Disclaimer on bottom of screen] Talk to your doctor before starting any treatment regimen.
H2 blockers, like Zantac 360°, also reduce how much stomach acid your body produces. Zantac 360° can be taken before eating or drinking to prevent symptoms or can also be taken after symptoms start for longer-lasting acid control than you’d get from an antacid.
Visual: ZANTAC 360 Degrees Contains the #1 doctor recommended active ingredient approved to both prevent and relieve heartburn - among unbranded acid reducer recommendations. Use as directed
[Disclaimer on bottom of screen] Acid control does not correlate to symptom relief.
Antacids
Antacids are over-the-counter medications that neutralize stomach acid to provide heartburn relief, as well as relieve acid indigestion and sour stomach. They are taken when symptoms occur.
H2 Blockers
H2 blockers, or histamine 2 blockers, are used to reduce the excess acid that causes heartburn. They work by blocking a type of histamine receptor that stimulates acid production in the stomach. Zantac 360°® is formulated with famotidine, an H2 blocker, and can be taken before you eat to prevent heartburn, or after to relieve it.
|
|
H2 Blockers |
Antacids |
|---|---|---|
|
OTC Brands |
Zantac 360°®, Tagamet®, Pepcid® |
Tums®, Rolaids® |
|
Prevents Heartburn |
Yes, when taken as directed before eating |
No |
|
Relieves Heartburn Fast
|
Yes |
Yes |
|
Long-lasting* |
Yes |
No |
*Refers to acid control. Acid control does not correlate to symptom relief.
All third-party trademarks are trademarks of their respective owners.
PPIs
PPIs, or proton pump inhibitors, are used to reduce the excess acid that causes conditions like frequent heartburn and GERD. They work by inhibiting or stopping the secretion of acid in the stomach from the “proton pump,” a molecule contained in stomach cells which “pump” acid into the stomach. They are taken before eating breakfast in the morning, once a day for 14 days.
|
|
H2 Blockers |
PPIs |
|---|---|---|
|
OTC Brands |
Zantac 360°®, Tagamet®, Pepcid® |
Nexium® 24HR, Prilosec OTC®, Prevacid® 24HR |
|
Prevents Heartburn |
Yes, when taken as directed before eating |
No; treat frequent heartburn when taken for 14 days. May take 1 to 4 days for full effect. |
|
Relieves Heartburn Fast |
Yes |
No |
|
Long-lasting* |
Yes |
Yes |
If you have any questions, talk to your healthcare professional about the medications you’re taking, and see which OTC heartburn medication is right for you, such as Zantac 360° — an all-in-one solution that both prevents and relieves heartburn!
*Refers to acid control. Acid control does not correlate to symptom relief.
All third-party trademarks are trademarks of their respective owners.
“Just like how people experience heartburn differently, they treat it differently, too.”
