Q. I am hoping you can give me advice about what to take for heartburn. I lead a “normal” life for a single mom: working long hours, carpooling, going to the gym and kid’s soccer games. I know my eating habits are not the best. I grab whatever I can, on the run, and sometimes dinner is a leftover slice of pizza in front of the TV late at night when I finally have a moment to myself.
Here’s the problem. I have been having heartburn a lot lately, sometimes as often as three times a week. I know heartburn isn’t a big deal–just uncomfortable. I’ve tried Tagamet HB, Pepcid AC, Maalox and Zantac 75, but nothing seems to help for very long. I’ve begun to think of these medications as “dessert.” My medicine chest looks like a drug store–and the heartburn keeps coming back.
A. Heartburn CAN be a big deal. We encourage you to see your doctor to rule out more serious problems. Diet may play a role in triggering heartburn and your late-night pizza is a prime culprit. Cheese, tomatoes and onion have all been linked to this uncomfortable condition. Your doctor might suggest a more powerful acid-suppressor such as Prilosec (omeprazole) or Prevacid (lansoprazole), but we would urge caution with such proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). Stopping such drugs can be challenging. Many people get into a PPI dependency cycle because they experience rebound acidity when they try to stop such drugs. The heartburn is so bad during the withdrawal process that they go right back on the PPI.
You could try herbal remedies like chamomile tea or deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL) pills from the health food store. Some people tell us that a handful of almonds helps their heartburn. Others say that vinegar is surprisingly effective. Here is just one such story:
“I finally found a “miracle cure” for acid reflux. Put 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar in 8 ounces of warm water (not cold or too hot). I didn’t think it would work, but I am finally off Prilosec after taking it for nearly twenty years. This is the best I’ve felt in a very long time.”
We’re sending you our guide to Digestive Disorders, which discusses heartburn in greater detail and how to treat it successfully.
For lots of other ideas about how to cope with heartburn and dozens of other common ailments, check out our book, The People’s Pharmacy Quick & Handy Home Remedies from National Geographic. If you would prefer natural approaches rather than prescription or OTC drugs, you should find Quick & Handy right up your alley.
