Treatment for acid reflux

My doctor has me on omeperazole, prilosec and metoctopramide for gastritis, aren't they all the same thing? I have been having burning in my stomach since I started taking all three.
(October 26, 2010)

Acid Reflux Treatment

The digestive system is made up of the mouth, the esophagus, the stomach and the intestinal systems below this. There are other organs like the liver and the gall bladder which play important roles when it comes to the functioning of the digestive system. In the stomach, food is broken down using various different digestive enzymes. The stomach also produces acids which are used to break down the food. Acid reflux is an uncomfortable condition where some of this acid, along with food, is passed back up into the esophagus.


Sometimes acid reflux may lead to vomiting. In most cases, it is limited to reflux into the esophagus. This causes burning and discomfort in the esophagus. An individual suffering from acid reflux may also experience indigestion and loose motions because the food is not being processed properly in the digestive system. Acid reflux may occur occasionally even in healthy individuals because the most recently consumed meal may be difficult to digest or process. An individual is said to be suffering from an acid reflux problem if the condition occurs repeatedly and especially if the condition does not respond to acidity medication. Most types of acid reflux treatment help to treat the root cause of the problem but certain types of acid reflux treatment methods also help to reduce the severity of the symptoms.

There are a few different methods for acid reflux treatment. Some methods rely on simply reducing the chance of acid being sent into the esophagus while others seek to tackle the buildup of acid in the stomach. When sleeping, an individual may sleep on his or her left side to reduce the chances of acid reflux. The individual may also sleep flat on the back with his or her head raise on two pillows. This replicates the hospital bed style sleeping arrangement and is helpful because by simple gravity, the chance of acid travelling up the esophagus is reduced. There are other remedies for acid reflux treatment and these are based on dietary changes that an individual can seek.

The first treatment for acid reflux is the modification of meal timings. There should be no log gaps between meals. This long gap leads to a buildup of acid in the stomach. This acid may therefore react aggressively with the food that is consumed and cause the symptoms of acid reflux. There are certain natural foods that can be used to prepare an acid reflux natural treatment. These foods include apple cider vinegar and ginger. Ginger is particularly effective as it can be boiled along with tea and consumed as a healing drink. Many brands of green tea contain ginger within them already and these are known to soothe the digestive system. An individual can also consume foods with high quantities of fiber. Fiber neutralizes the acidity of the stomach to a certain extent and can help to provide bulk to the food without providing any spice or acid. Foods that contain acids like citrus fruits may be avoidable as they can exacerbate the condition. Spicy meals should be avoided as much as possible as these are likely to worsen the condition considerably. Individual suffering from acid reflux should drink plenty of water when they can.