Although these agents are affective and work fast, many people do not like their taste. In large doses antacids are expensive and can be associated with diahrea or constipation. Now consumers have more choices. For good and bad, H-2 antagonists now are available without a prescription, that is, in lesser dosages over the counter. The same drugs in larger doses treat ulcers.
Smaller doses are very effective in preventing heartburn.
These drugs are called H-2 antagonists because they block the release of histamine to the stomach. Some people can predict their heartburn. They eat spicy foods or foods that their stomachs find hard to digest and they can rely on belching and burning in the throat and chest area. Heartburn is aggravated by tight clothing, bending over and overindulging. Taking an H-2 antagonist before eating an offending food can prevent a bout of heartburn.