Heartburn — a short-lived burning pain that rises up from your stomach, often after a large meal — is a symptom of gastro-oesophageal reflux GOR. Heartburn occurs when acid from your stomach enters the lower part of your oesophagus the food pipe that connects your mouth with your stomach.
Heartburn can be occasional and of little concern to you, or it may be troublesome every day. How often heartburn occurs and how much it impacts on your life help determine the type of treatment that is appropriate for you. The following changes can benefit most people who get heartburn, even when heartburn medicine is also prescribed.
Certain medicines, such as some of those used for depression and high blood pressure, can make heartburn worse. Some medicines used to treat arthritis can cause heartburn as a side effect. Ask your doctor if any of your regular medicines are likely to be making your heartburn worse. If your symptoms do not get better after making the above changes, effective heartburn medicines are also available. These medicines are available over-the-counter from a pharmacy.
Antacids neutralise the acidity of stomach juices and relieve heartburn quickly, although their effect is fairly short-lived. They are taken as a liquid e. Gastrogel, Mylanta or as a chewable tablet e. Antacids can interfere with the absorption of many regular medicines, so check with your doctor about their suitability for you. Some preparations e.
Gaviscon, Mylanta Heartburn Relief also contain alginic acid, which forms a gel a raft that floats on top of the stomach juices to impede their regurgitation into the oesophagus. They do not relieve heartburn as quickly as antacids, but do have a longer lasting effect.
They are taken as a tablet when needed e. These medicines are powerful suppressors of acid production in the stomach — reducing the production of acid in response to food by up to 90 per cent.
They can be used as required to treat mild, intermittent symptoms of GOR. These medicines can be used to control symptoms in the short term. If your heartburn symptoms occur twice or more per week or your symptoms are severe and impairing your quality of life, see your doctor. Your doctor may prescribe a medicine to take every day that suppresses acid production in your stomach.
Proton pump inhibitors are very effective in the majority of people who have troublesome heartburn. Examples include omeprazole e. Losec , esomeprazole e. Heartburn is a symptom commonly experienced by pregnant women such that some women and obstetricians even consider it to be a normal occurrence in a healthy pregnancy.
Heartburn refers to a burning sensation or warmth behind the lower end of the breastbone. Other common accompanying symptoms include a bitter taste, fullness, burping and difficulty swallowing. The first fibre optic endoscope was made possible by Basil Hirschowitz in Currently, endoscopy is used as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool for various indications, ranging from gastrointestinal exploration to knee surgery.
Endoscopy of the upper gastrointestinal tract is also referred to as oesophagogastroduodenoscopy OGD , or gastroscopy for short. It passes a thin, flexible tube fitted with a camera through the mouth to the duodenum. It allows the physician to examine the mucosal lining of the oesophagus, stomach and duodenum.
GORD often requires lifelong and regular use of antireflux therapies. A particular bacteria, called Helicobacter pylori , can irritate the stomach and the beginning of the small bowel. A specific treatment has been developed for the eradication of this bacteria. Proton pump inhibitors PPIs are a commonly prescribed class of medications whose main action is to create a pronounced and long-lasting reduction of stomach acid production.
They are used for the treatment of a number of medical conditions, most often for GORD. They are the most potent inhibitors of acid secretion available today. Somac contains the active ingredient pantoprazole. They should not be crushed or chewed. Contraindications Somac tablets should not be taken in certain situations. Precautions Some circumstances need special consideration before taking Somac tablets. Use in children The use of Somac tablets in children under five years of age has not been studied.
Use in pregnancy Somac tablets are a Pregnancy Category B3 medication. Use while breastfeeding Somac tablets should not be used if you are breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed. Schedule Somac tablets are Schedule 4 — prescription only medication.
Patients do not necessarily experience any of these side effects, so do not become alarmed by this list: Dizziness ; Nausea and vomiting ; Allergic skin reactions, including pruritus and skin rash ; Blurred vision. Rare side effects occur in less than 0. These include: Fever ; Anaphylactic reactions including anaphylactic shock and peripheral oedema ; Hypertension ; Rectal disorder; Colonic polyp ; Joint pain ; Psychiatric disorders, including depression , hallucination , disorientation and confusion.
These conditions are particularly likely in patients who have previously experienced psychiatric disorders, and those who are already suffering from a psychiatric disorder may find that their symptoms become worse. Psychiatric disorders are also more common in patients who have an increased risk for these conditions e. Very rare side effects occur in less than 0.
References Product Information: Somac. Pantoprazole [online]. Available from: [ URL Link ]. It can be taken as a 20 mg delayed-release capsule for 4 to 8 weeks in adults and children 1 year and older. Pantoprazole and omeprazole are in the same class of medications. However, they have different approved uses and side effects.
They also come in different dosages and formulations. Pantoprazole and omeprazole are both effective for GERD and erosive esophagitis. One PPI drug may be preferred over the other depending on the condition being treated and the cost of the medication.
Pantoprazole and omeprazole are not recommended in pregnant women due to the risk of fetal harm. However, in some cases, the benefits may outweigh the risk. Consult a doctor if you are pregnant. Consuming alcohol may increase certain side effects associated with pantoprazole or omeprazole. Alcohol may worsen PPI side effects, such as headache and nausea.
Over-the-counter OTC omeprazole contains the same active ingredient found in prescription-strength omeprazole. This treatment course should not be taken more than once every 4 months.
Since pantoprazole and omeprazole work in identical ways, they should not be taken at the same time. They both work as PPIs to reduce the production of acid in the stomach. Taking them together could increase the risk of adverse effects.
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