Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) can relieve the heartburn and discomfort of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), as well as heal damage done to the esophagus by stomach acids.
For the best results, be sure to use them correctly. A study in The American Journal of Gastroenterology shows that 61 percent of users do not.
Following directions
The researchers interviewed patients taking over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription PPIs. They found that dosing frequency and timing were inconsistent, leading to poor symptom relief. Just 37 percent of OTC users took them correctly; 47 percent took prescribed drugs correctly; and drugs prescribed by a gastroenterologist were taken correctly 71 percent of the time.
Another study shows that only one-third of physicians instructed patients to take the medicine before breakfast. But gastroenterologists did.
What PPIs do
PPIs reduce the amount of acid produced in your stomach. Doctors at Johns Hopkins University say that, ideally, they should be taken once a day before the first meal of the day.
OTC PPIs include Prilosec, Prevacid 24HR and Zegerid. Prescription PPIs include Nexium, Prevacid, Protonix and AcipHex. Always use the lowest dosage for the shortest time possible.
Increasing their effectiveness
* Take your pill 20 to 30 minutes before your first meal.
* If prescribed two pills a day, take the second before dinner.
* Don't skip doses. PPIs are most effective if taken consistently.
* Avoid taking an over-the-counter PPI for more than than 14 days, and no more than three series a year, without a doctor's approval.
* If you've taken an OTC for more than 14 days. Ask your doctor if you should see a gastroenterologist for a better diagnosis or treatment.
* It takes up to seven days of continuous use for maximum effect, but some individuals feel better after each pill.
