Heartburn (cont.)
IN THIS ARTICLE
Self-Care at Home
For mild or occasional symptoms, simple lifestyle modifications can be helpful.
- Avoid large meals.
- Avoid caffeine (coffee, teas, some soft drinks).
- Avoid foods or drinks that reduce pressure on the
lower esophageal sphincter such as chocolate, peppermint,
caffeine-containing beverages, and fatty or fried foods.
- Avoid foods that damage the esophagus such
as spicy foods, citrus fruits and juices, tomatoes and tomato sauces.
- After eating, beware of activities that force acid
back into your esophagus. Such activities include lifting, straining,
coughing, and wearing tight clothing.
- Use gravity to your advantage. Avoid lying down
within 3 hours of meals. If you suffer from nighttime heartburn, elevate the
head of your bed when sleeping. Place 6-inch blocks underneath the head of the
bed, or place a wedge under the mattress. Simply using more pillows under your
head will not help. In fact, it may worsen the heartburn by increasing
the pressure on your stomach.
- Lose weight if you are overweight.
- Stop smoking.
- Limit alcohol intake.
- Antacids such as Maalox, Mylanta, Tums, or Rolaids
can also be helpful. Antacids work by neutralizing acid. They should be taken
1 hour after meals or when heartburn symptoms occur.
- Low doses of drugs that block the production of stomach acid are available over-the-counter. Some examples include cimetidine (Tagamet), ranitidine (Zantac), and famotidine (Pepcid).
Next: Medical Treatment »
Important Safety Information
- KAPIDEX may not be right for everyone. You should not take KAPIDEX if you are allergic to KAPIDEX or any of its ingredients. Severe allergic reactions have been reported.
- Symptom relief does not rule out other serious stomach conditions.
- The most common side effects of KAPIDEX were diarrhea (4.8%), stomach pain (4.0%), nausea (2.9%), common cold (1.9%), vomiting (1.6%), and gas (1.6%). KAPIDEX and certain other medicines can affect each other. Before taking KAPIDEX, tell your doctor if you are taking ampicillin, atazanavir, digoxin, iron, ketoconazole, or tacrolimus. If you are taking KAPIDEX with warfarin, you may need to be monitored because serious risks could occur.
Uses of KAPIDEX
- Persistent heartburn two or more days a week, despite treatment and diet changes, could be acid reflux disease (ARD). Prescription KAPIDEX capsules are used in adults to treat heartburn related to ARD, to heal acid-related damage to the lining of the esophagus (called erosive esophagitis or EE), and to stop EE from coming back. Individual results may vary. Most damage (erosions) heals in 4–8 weeks.
Talk to your doctor or healthcare professional. Please see full Prescribing Information for KAPIDEX.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
KAPIDEX™ is a trademark of Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America, Inc., and is used under license by Takeda Pharmaceuticals America, Inc.
LPD-00767
GI Disorders
Get the latest treatment options.
From WebMD
Heartburn Resources
Featured Centers
Health Solutions From Our Sponsors
Also on eMedicineHealth
Read What Your Physician is Reading on eMedicine
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease »
Gastroesophageal reflux is a normal physiological phenomenon experienced intermittently by most people, particularly after a meal.
