Treatment Options

Helping Yourself

• Eat smaller meals. Do not eat within two hours of going to bed.
• Avoid foods that bring on your heartburn. Common culprits include chocolate, citrus fruits and juices, tomatoes and tomato juice, peppermint or spearmint flavored foods or drinks, fried or fatty foods, spicy foods, coffee, and carbonated beverages.
• Avoid alcohol. Alcohol irritates the esophagus and can promote symptoms of GERD.
• Stop smoking.
• Lose weight. Losing weight can take pressure off the valve between the esophagus and stomach.
• Raise the head of your bed (e.g., by placing the legs on thick telephone books). This may help to decrease the backward flow of acid from the stomach to the esophagus while you are sleeping.
• Do not take aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen or other NSAIDs. Try acetaminophen instead, if needed for pain or fever.
• Try an over-the-counter antacid such as Maalox or Mylanta to neutralize the painful stomach acid. If it is not effective, consider trying over-the-counter acid-blockers such as Pepcid AC or Tagamet HB, or an over-the-counter proton pump inhibitor, Prilosec OTC. Be sure to follow the package instructions carefully and inform your doctor.

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Note: The above information is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgment of your physician, pharmacist, or other healthcare professional. It is not intended to diagnose a health condition, but it can be used as a guide to help you decide if you should seek professional treatment or to help you learn more about your condition once it has been diagnosed.