Acid Reflux Treatment & Heartburn Relief

Acid Reflux 

Oxford Online Pharmacy acid reflux service and information 

If you suffer from acid reflux, Oxford Online Pharmacy provides an online consultation with a GMC-registered doctor. Please select your medication and complete the online doctor's questionnaire. 

Your medical history will be assessed by the doctor and, if approved, a prescription will be issued. If you already have a private or NHS prescription, you can select the medication specified by your doctor and send your prescription to Oxford Online Pharmacy.  

Your medicine will be dispensed and sent discreetly to your chosen address.

What is acid reflux? 

Acid reflux is a common condition, particularly amongst adults aged 40 and above.

Acid reflux happens when a muscle a the bottom of your oesophagus (food pipe) called the lower oesophageal sphincter relaxes at the wrong time. This allows stomach acid to travel back up from your stomach into your oesophagus (food pipe) and can result in heartburn and other symptoms. (1) 

What is heartburn? 

Heartburn is a burning sensation in the middle of your chest that can be accompanied by an unpleasant sour taste in your mouth. It is caused by stomach acid. (2) 

What is GERD acid reflux?  

If a person has acid reflux all the time, it could be a condition called gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Typical signs of GERD include: 

• Halitosis (bad breath)
• Thoracic discomfort (chest pain)
• Persistent cough 
• Challenges with swallowing (dysphagia)
• Upset stomach 
• Queasiness (feeling sick)
• Backflow of stomach contents (sicky burps)
• Irritated throat 

Acid reflux symptoms 

The most common symptoms are: 

• Acid reflux - Stomach acid coming up and into the mouth leaving a nasty taste
• Heartburn - Burning chest pain after eating, sometimes worse when lying down
• Difficulty or pain when swallowing

You could also have a persistent cough, bad breath, bloating or nausea. 

Symptoms are frequently worse after eating, lying down or bending over. 

What causes acid reflux? 

Acid reflux is caused when the lower oesophageal sphincter opens to let food move into the stomach but either doesn't close properly or is loose. This means that acid can splash up from the stomach into the oesophagus (food pipe).

Most people will get heartburn at some point, often without a clear reason why. 

Acid reflux can be caused or made worse by: 

• Certain foods and drinks (for example, coffee, tomatoes, wine, chocolate, and fatty or spicy foods) 
• Anxiety and stress 
• A rise in certain hormones, such as progesterone and oestrogen 
• Certain medications, such as anti-inflammatory pain relievers (such as ibuprofen) 
• Eating a high-fat diet 
• Being overweight 
• Pregnancy

How to help acid reflux

You can start by making changes to your diet and seeing if that helps. Most people respond well to medication, but symptoms may return quite quickly once it is stopped. If this happens you may need to return to medication. In some instances, you may need to take medication on a long-term basis. 

Foods to avoid with acid reflux 

1. Foods high in fat or deep-fried tend to stay in the stomach for a a longer time, increasing the risk of stomach acid splashing back into the oesophagus
2. Spicy foods, citrus fruits, tomato-based sauces, and vinegar have the potential to cause or worsen heartburn
3. Common triggers for heartburn include chocolate, caffeine, onions, fizzy drinks and alcohol

List of foods to eat with acid reflux 

1. Choose non-citrus fruits like bananas, melons, apples or pears
2. Choose more raw vegetables than cooked ones. While tomato sauce might cause discomfort, a fresh tomato may not have the same effect
3. Go for lean meats that are grilled, poached or baked. Enhance their flavour with fresh herbs instead of using spices
4. Include oatmeal, whole-grain bread, rice, and couscous in your diet. These are excellent sources of healthy complex carbohydrates and fibre
5. Substituting unsaturated fats from plant sources and fish is a wise move. Replace saturated and trans fats with oils like olive, sesame, canola, sunflower, and safflower, as well as avocados, nuts, seeds, soybeans, and fatty fish such as salmon and trout (3) 

What to drink for acid reflux? 

Drinking non-fizzy drinks like water, herbal teas and low-fat milk may ease symptoms of acid reflux.  

You should try to avoid acidic drinks like alcohol, citrus fruit juices and as they can make acid reflux worse.

How to get rid of acid reflux? 

Changing your diet to ease the symptoms of acid reflux should help, but may not work completely. In this case, there are medicines that reduce the amount of acid the stomach makes. This can relieve the symptoms of acid reflux.

Acid reflux treatments 

At Oxford Online Pharmacy we have a wide variety of acid reflux treatments which can be used at home to help control symptoms. 

Medicines that can help acid reflux include: 

Over the counter acid reflux treatments 

Nexium Control Tablets 

• Active ingredient: Esomeprazole 
• Strength: 20mg 
• Class: Proton pump inhibitor (PPI) 
• Treats: Acid reflux 
• Dose: One tablet daily 

Pyrocalm Control Tablets 

• Active ingredient: Omeprazole
• Strength: 20mg 
• Class: Proton pump inhibitor (PPI) 
• Treats: Acid reflux 
• Dose: One tablet daily 

You can purchase the lowest dose of Esomeprazole 20mg Capsule, under the name Nexium Control and Omeprazole 20mg tablets, under the brand name Pyrocalm Control without needing a prescription from Oxford Online Pharmacy. 

Pyrocalm Control and Nexium Control are similar medicines and should not be used together, only one or the other.

Prescription-only acid reflux treatments 

Omeprazole capsules 

• Active ingredient: Omeprazole  
• Strengths: 10mg or 20mg  
• Class: Proton pump inhibitor (PPI)  
• Treats: Acid reflux  
• Brand Name: Pyrocalm Control 20mg tablets, Losec 10mg or 20mg capsules  
• Dose: One capsule daily  

Lansoprazole capsules  

• Active ingridient: Lansoprazole  
• Strengths: 15mg or 30mg  
• Class: Proton pump inhibitor (PPI)  
• Treats: Acid reflux  
• Brand Name: Zoton FastTab tablets 15mg or 30mg  
• Dose: One capsule daily  

Esomeprazole capsules 

• Active ingredient: Esomeprazole  
• Strengths: 20mg or 40mg  
• Class: Proton pump inhibitor (PPI)  
• Treats: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GORD)  
• Brand Name: Nexium tablets 20mg or 40mg  
• Dose: One capsule daily  

Pantoprazole tablets  

• Active ingredient: Pantoprazole  
• Strengths: 20mg or 40mg  
• Class: Proton pump inhibitor (PPI)  
• Treats: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GORD)  
• Brand Name: Protonix  
• Dose: One tablet daily 

FAQ’s 

Is acid reflux dangerous? 

Occasional acid reflux does not usually lead to long term problems. 

If regular or constant acid reflux goes untreated, it can result in conditions like oesophagitis (a constantly irritated and sore oesophagus/food pipe) or stomach ulcers.

Individuals experiencing recurrent acid reflux also face a slightly higher risk of developing oesophageal cancer. 

Treatment for acid reflux can reduce discomfort and the risk of developing severe complications. 

How long does acid reflux last? 

Mild acid reflux caused by spicy or acidic foods normally lasts until the food is digested. If you bend over or lie down, your heartburn symptoms may return several hours later. 

Acid reflux that responds to at-home treatment is usually nothing to be concerned about. 

If you get acid reflux several times each week or more, it could be a sign of an underlying illness and you should see your doctor. In this instance, you will probably experience acid reflux until the cause is found and managed. 

References: 

1. MayoClinic, Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
2. NHS, Heart burn and acid reflux
3. Harvard Health Publishing, GERD diet: Foods to avoid to reduce acid reflux, Jenette Restivo, July 3, 2023