Commercials abound for a couple of the drugs in these categories. You know them by name Tagamet, HB, Pecid AC, and Zantac 75.

For Tagamet (cimetidine), the prescribed dose is usually 300 mg, three times a day for four to six weeks and many people experience improvement after two to four weeks. Because antacids reduce the absorption of Tagamet, make sure your antacids an hour before or after Tagamet is taken. Some take the H2 blocker before eating and antacids after eating.

For Zantac (ranitidine HCI), the prescribed dose is usually 150 mg two times a day for four to six weeks depending on the response. For people whose symptoms mainly appear at night, a single dose of 300 mg taken at bedtime might do the trick.

Warning

Even through these drugs are available without a prescription from your doctor, you should seek medical attention for persistent heartburn.

Side Effects

These drugs, for the most part, have few side effects. Headache is the most common one cited. Other side effects reported are mild temporary diarrhea, dizziness, and rash. Liver and nerve disease exacerbate these side effects. Another concern is that long term acid suppression with these drugs may cause cancerous changes in the stomach in people who also have untreated H .pylori infection (this also goes for long term use of proton pump inhibitor drugs.

Tagamet (cimetidine) interacts with a number of common medications (phenytoin, theophyline, and wafarin). Long term use of excessive doses (more than 3g a day) of cimitidine may cause impotence or breast enlargement (these problems reverse after the drug is discontinued).

Zantac (ranitidine) interferes with very few drugs.

Axid (fomotidine and nizatidine), the latest H2 blocker, is nearly free of side effects or drug interactions.

For more heartburn informations and Cure Heartburn Natral. Please visit http://www.totalhealthremedies.com/cure_heartburn_now.html

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