Home treatment measures and nonprescription medications are usually all that is needed to relieve mild to moderate heartburn discomfort. Self-Care Measures Many of the recommended home treatment measures are the same as those recommended for people suffering from GERD: If you smoke, stop. Do not drink alcohol. Lose weight, if needed. Eat small meals. Wear loose-fitting clothes. Avoid lying down for 3 hours after a meal. If these measures don’t take care of the problem, there are also a number of non-prescription medications available. Medications Your doctor may recommend over-the-counter antacids, which you can buy without a prescription: Antacids, such as Maalox, Mylanta, Rolaids, and Riopan, are usually the first drugs recommended to relieve heartburn and other mild GERD symptoms. Many brands on the market use different combinations of three basic salts – magnesium, calcium, and aluminum--with hydroxide or bicarbonate ions to neutralize the acid in your stomach. Antacids, however, have side effects and should be used with care. Magnesium salt can lead to diarrhea, and aluminum salts can cause constipation. Aluminum and magnesium salts are often combined in a single product to balance these effects. Calcium carbonate antacids, such as Tums, Titralac, and Alka-2, can also be a supplemental source of calcium. They can cause constipation as well. Foaming agents, such as Gaviscon, work by covering your stomach contents with foam to prevent reflux. These drugs may help those who have no damage to the esophagus. Acid preventers. Several medications which used to be available only by prescription can now be purchased at pharmacies, without a prescription. They are not designed for occasional heartburn, but for more persistent forms of heartburn and GERD. We strongly recommend that you consult with a physician before using these on a long-term basis. • H2 blockers, such as cimetidine (Tagamet HB), famotidine (Pepcid AC), nizatidine (Axid AR), and ranitidine (Zantac 75), impede acid production. They are available in prescription strength and over the counter. These drugs provide short-term relief, but over-the-counter H2 blockers should not be used for more than a few weeks at a time. • Proton pump inhibitors include omeprazole (Prilosec), lansoprazole (Prevacid), pantoprazole (Protonix), rabeprazole (Aciphex), and esomeprazole (Nexium), which are all available by prescription. Prilosec OTC is now available over-the-counter. Proton pump inhibitors are more effective than H2 blockers and can relieve symptoms in almost everyone who has GERD. Again, since persistent heartburn symptoms can indicate a number of more serious conditions, we strongly recommend discussing this medication with your physician before choosing to take it for an extended period of time.