Antacids

How they work
Neutralises the acids in your stomach that are causing your heartburn/stomach pain //Neutralise hydrochloric acid secreted by gastric parietal cells.//

Questions to Ask
What medications? //reduces the effect of a number of other medicines taken by mouth, separate by at least 2 hours// - medical conditions? //heart failure, chronic renal failure, cirrhosis, oedema (due to salt) and diabetes (due to sugar content)// - allergies?

How to take
Take between meals or at bedtime when symptoms occur or you expect they might occur. Tablets should be chewed or sucked before swallowing for the best effect.

Side effects
Constipation: exacerbated by antacids containing aluminium and calcium. Diarrhoea//:// exacerbated by laxative effect of antacids containing magnesium.

Other advice?
- optimum antacid effect is achieved if taken 1–3 hours after meals - liquid preparations are more effective, but less convenient, than solid preparations - reduce fatty/greasy foods, chocolate, citrus fruits, tomato-based foods, garlic, onions and spicy foods in your diet - eat your meals slowly - try to avoid eating 2-3 hours before going to bed - walking around after the meal aids digestion and reduces heartburn See your doctor if: - the pain moves from your chest down to your arm (heart attack) - this is the first time you have experienced symptoms, especially if you are over 40 years of age - you use antacids or heartburn/indigestion medicines on a regular basis to relieve what you think is indigestion

CMI
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