Indigestion medicines
- Madeeha Waheed, Oncology Pharmacist at Bupa, Medical Policy Team
Indigestion medicines can help to ease symptoms of indigestion (dyspepsia). There are several different medicines for indigestion. The one that’s right for you will depend on what’s causing your symptoms and how often you’re getting the symptoms.
Uses of indigestion medicines
You may take indigestion medicines for a number of reasons.
- Occasional, mild bouts of indigestion. Most people experience this once in a while. It’s often triggered by what you eat. Certain factors, such as being overweight and stressed, can make it worse. You can buy indigestion medicines from a shop or pharmacy to help manage occasional symptoms.
- Indigestion during pregnancy. It’s common to get indigestion symptoms during pregnancy. Certain over-the-counter indigestion medicines are safe to take if you’re pregnant. Check with your midwife, pharmacist or doctor which ones are suitable for you.
- Long-term digestive problems. Certain health conditions, such as gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) and peptic ulcers can cause frequent indigestion. If you keep getting indigestion, your doctor may prescribe stronger indigestion medicines to keep it under control.
Not all indigestion medicines are suitable for everyone. Check with your pharmacist or doctor before taking over-the-counter medicines if you have any health conditions, such as problems with your liver or kidneys. Some indigestion medicines can interact with other medicines you may be taking. For more information, see our Interactions of indigestion medicines section.
Types of indigestion medicine
There are three main types of medicines for indigestion. These are:
- antacids and alginates
- proton pump inhibitors
- H2-blockers
These medicines all act in different ways to either neutralise (counteract) or block the production of stomach acid. Speak to your GP or pharmacist about the best medicine for indigestion, depending on your symptoms.
Antacids and alginates
You can buy these medicines over the counter, without a prescription from a doctor. Antacids often contain aluminium or magnesium compounds. These work by neutralising your stomach acid.
Antacids are often taken together with an alginate. Alginates form a protective layer on top of your stomach contents. This stops acid rising back up your oesophagus (the tube that goes from your mouth to your stomach).
Antacids may also be combined with simeticone. Simeticone is a medicine that reduces trapped air (wind).
Examples of antacid products include:
- Gaviscon – this contains antacids and an alginate
- Maalox Plus – this contains antacids and simeticone
- Rennie – this contains antacids
The product label will tell you which active ingredients your medicine contains, or you can ask your pharmacist.
Proton pump inhibitors
You can take a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) if you keep getting heartburn or acid reflux. PPIs work by reducing the amount of acid your stomach makes.
You can buy a PPI from your pharmacy without a prescription if it’s just for short-term or occasional use. If you need to take PPIs for longer than 14 days or you have peptic ulcers or gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, your GP may prescribe a PPI.
Examples of PPIs include:
- omeprazole, which is available on prescription (such as Losec and Mezzopram) and sold in pharmacies (such as Pyrocalm Control)
- lansoprazole, which is available on prescription (such as Zoton)
- esomeprazole, which is available on prescription (such as Nexium) and sold in pharmacies (such as Nexium Control and Guardium)
H2-blockers
Your GP may prescribe H2-blockers if you have ongoing problems with indigestion. Like PPIs, these medicines stop your stomach from making so much acid. Your doctor may prescribe H2-blockers if PPIs aren’t working.
The main H2-blocker is famotidine, which is available on prescription.
Taking indigestion medicines
How you take your indigestion medicines will depend on the specific type you’re taking. Here we give a general guide, but always read the patient information leaflet that comes with your medicine for full details. If you have any questions about taking medicines, ask your pharmacist for advice.
Antacids and alginates
Antacids and alginate medicines come as tablets or liquids. The ones that come as liquids generally work better than tablets and capsules. You take these medicines whenever you get – or expect to get – indigestion symptoms. This is usually shortly after eating or before you go to bed.<~/p>
If your symptoms aren’t getting better after using these medicines for 14 days, speak to your pharmacist. You may be recommended to try a PPI blocker instead, or to contact your GP.
Proton pump inhibitors
Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) come as tablets or capsules. You need to take these once or twice a day.
You can buy PPIs from a pharmacy to treat heartburn. But you shouldn’t take the over-the-counter products for more than 14 days without checking with your GP first.
If you have peptic ulcers or gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, your doctor may prescribe a stronger dose of PPI to take for four to eight weeks. If you’re still getting symptoms after this, they may suggest you continue taking a PPI at a lower dose or just when your symptoms flare up.
H2-blockers
H2-blockers usually come as tablets. You might need to take them a couple of times a day for a set period of time.
Interactions of indigestion medicines
Indigestion medicines can sometimes interact with other medicines. This may affect how well your medicines work.
- Antacids can reduce how well your body absorbs other medicines.
- PPIs can reduce how well your body absorbs other medicines. Or they can increase the levels of other medicines in your body.
The patient information leaflet that comes with your medicine will tell you about any interactions your medicines have with others.
Your doctor will offer you the best medicine, based on any other medicines you’re taking. But check with your pharmacist or GP before taking any new medicines or herbal remedies at the same time as an indigestion treatment.
Side-effects of indigestion medicines
Side-effects are the unwanted effects that you may get from taking a medicine. The leaflet that comes with your medicine will tell you about the side-effects of different indigestion medicines.
Below are some of the most common side-effects to look out for.
- Antacids containing magnesium tend to act as a laxative and can cause diarrhoea. Antacids containing aluminium may give you constipation.
- Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) can cause some mild side-effects. These side-effects can include tummy pain, constipation or diarrhoea, dizziness, feeling sick or being sick.
- H2-blockers don’t usually cause side-effects. But these medicines can sometimes cause diarrhoea, dizziness, tiredness, headache and skin rashes.
If you have any side-effects when you start taking a new medicine, contact your doctor or pharmacist for advice and help.
Your GP will prescribe the lowest dose of PPI for the shortest time possible. Taking PPIs at high doses for a long time may cause some extra side-effects, especially if you take them for more than a year. These side-effects are rare but can include:
- having low levels of magnesium in your body – this can make you feel tired and cause weak or twitching muscles
- increasing your risk of getting osteoporosis , which means you’re more likely to break a bone – your GP may recommend you take calcium and vitamin D supplements with your PPIs, and may give you another medicine to protect your bones
- being more likely to get stomach infections
Medicines checklist
Bupa's medicines checklist (PDF, 0.8MB), helps you understand what to check for before taking a medicine.
Indigestion can affect children from time to time. But over-the-counter indigestion medicines should only be given to children under 12 years following a doctor’s advice. Not all prescribed indigestion medicines are suitable for children either. If your child has symptoms of indigestion, contact your GP for advice.
The best medicine depends on how bad your indigestion symptoms are and when you get them. Antacids may help occasional mild symptoms. Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are more suitable for regular symptoms. Your pharmacist can give you advice about indigestion medicines. For more information, see our Types of indigestion medicines section.
Antacids work quickly by neutralising your stomach acid. You can take these whenever you get symptoms, or if you expect to get symptoms. If you need to take antacids regularly, your pharmacist or GP may recommend you take a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) instead. For more information, see our Taking indigestion medicines section.
Seven tips for a healthy and well-balanced diet
A healthy, well-balanced diet involves eating foods from a variety of food groups to get the nutrients that your body needs to function.
Indigestion
Indigestion medicines can be used to relieve pain or discomfort in your upper abdomen (tummy) or chest that may occur soon after meals.
Peptic ulcers
Peptic ulcers are sores that can develop on the lining of your stomach, small bowel or food pipe (oesophagus). They usually occur when your stomach acid damages the lining.
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- Personal communication, Madeeha Waheed, Oncology Pharmacist at Bupa, Medical Policy Team, BGUK, March 2024
- Victoria Goldman, Freelance Health Editor
