Which Antacid Works the Best? Heartburn is a condition characterized by a burning feeling in the chest and a sour or bitter taste in the mouth. Heartburn usually develops when the acidic contents of the stomach flow back, or regurgitate, into the esophagus, the muscular tube that carries food from the throat to the stomach. Approximately one in ten adults experience heartburn once a week. Heartburn is more common in pregnant women because of the pressure the expanding uterus exerts on the stomach. When you swallow, the lower esophageal sphincter, a circular band of muscle around the bottom part of your esophagus, relaxes to allow food and liquid to flow down into your stomach. When it relaxes at the wrong time, stomach acid flows back up into your esophagus, even though you ” re in an upright position.
The acid backup is worse when you ” re bent over or lying down. Some factors that can cause the sphincter to relax abnormally include: Fatty foods Chocolate, caffeine, onions, spicy foods, mint and some medications Alcohol Large meals Lying down soon after eating Tranquilizers, such as including diazepam (Valium) and (Xanax) Theophylline (Slo-Bid, Theo-Dur), an asthma medication Being overweight Hiatal hernias Oral contraceptives Heart medications The amount of gastric juice produced by the stomach varies from person to person. People that produce more gastric acid are referred to as ‘hyper secretory’. People that produce less gastric acid are known to be ‘hypo secretory’. Antacids can also be used to help heal duodenal ulcers. These ulcers occur in the upper part of the intestines.
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They can also be combined with other medications to help treat gastric ulcers and acid reflux. Heartburn is generally diagnosed with a complete description of the symptoms. In severe cases, a physician may order a barium X ray of the stomach and esophagus to rule out other problems. A physician may also examine the esophagus with an endoscope, an instrument that can view the interior of the digestive tract, and take tissue and fluid samples.
There are several treatments for heartburn. In mild cases, over-the-counter medications such as antacids can relieve occasional bouts. Chronic heartburn can be treated with medications that prevent the production of acid in the stomach. Several of these medicines are now sold over the counter; others are available only by prescription.
Antacids are medicines that neutralize hydrochloric acid in the stomach, thus, relieving heartburn. Although there are other ingredients in the stomach, antacids only react with hydrochloric acid. They are able to do this because they are bases. Water’s pH is 7. Bases have a higher pH, and acids have a lower pH. Bases, which have a high pH, cause an acid’s pH to rise, thus bringing the pH closer to water.
The mixture that results is one of salt and water. Antacids differ in their reaction time, neutralizing capacity, and side effects. For the most part, liquid antacids are more efficient than tablets. There are four main different types of ingredients in antacids.
Each differs in reaction time and power. They are Aluminum hydroxide (Al (OH 3) ), Calcium carbonate (CaCO 3), Magnesium hydroxide (Mg (OH 2) ), and sodium bicarbonate (NaH CO 3).
Aluminum hydroxide preparations vary in their solubility and neutralizing ability. The aluminum chloride salt that is formed in the reaction with gastric acid is insoluble and can cause constipation. Tetracycline is absorbed from this antacid also.
The Essay on Which Antacid Neutralizes Acid the Best?
... increase pH levels. This ingredient can be sodium, magnesium, calcium or aluminum. Some over-the-counter antacids contain a H2 blocker or Proton ... expensive one will be able to neutralize the most acid. Overview Antacids Antacids are a type of medication that can be purchased ... respective beakers, named according to the brands. The tablet form of antacid is crushed first using the mortar and pestle ...
Phosphate also can also be rendered in absorbable due to salt formation and cause a bone condition called osteomalacia. Calcium carbonate is a very effective antacid and reacts more slowly than sodium bicarbonate. Some ten percent of the ionic calcium is absorbed and may infrequently cause (high calcium in the blood), which can cause kidney failure. It is also used as an antidote to corrosive acid poisoning. Magnesium hydroxide, also known as milk of magnesia, is relatively insoluble, and thus is an antacid of greater gastric longevity and usefulness. It is fast reacting and only a small amount of ionic magnesium is absorbed into the blood stream.
Magnesium salts remain in the intestines and have a laxative effect. Magnesium and aluminum containing antacids often combined to offset their individual effects on bowel function… Sodium bicarbonate is very soluble and fast reacting. Because it is readily soluble, it is rapidly removed from the gut by absorption.
Therefore, sodium bicarbonate is not useful for long-term use as it can cause systemic alkalosis and fluid retention. People on low-salt diets, those who have high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, glaucoma, or a history of stroke, should not use it. There are many different brands of antacids. Amongst these brands are the five main ones. These are Tums, Rolaids, Alka-Seltzer, Maalox, and Mylanta.
Tums and Rolaids come in chewable tablets. Alka-Seltzer comes in tablets that you dissolve in water before ingesting it. Maalox and Mylanta are liquid antacids. There are also generic brands of these antacids. Tums contain 500 mg of Calcium carbonate per tablet. They will not cause constipation or diarrhea.
The maximum dosage at once is 4 tablets. One dose can be taken every hour, but no more than fifteen tablets can be taken in a day’s time. Other ingredients are sucrose, Com starch, talc, mineral oil, natural and artificial flavors, acid, sodium poly phosphate, and other color additives. Rolaids contain 550 mg of Calcium carbonate and 110 mg of Magnesium hydroxide per tablet. The Magnesium hydroxide can cause diarrhea. The maximum dosage at once is 4 tablets.
A dose can be taken every hour, but no more than twelve tablets can be taken in a day’s time. Other ingredients are dextrose, flavoring, magnesium, polyethylene glycol, pre gelatinized starch, and sucrose. Alka-Seltzer contains 1916 mg of sodium bicarbonate per tablet. The maximum dosage at once is two tablets dissolved in four ounces of water. A dose can be taken every four hours, but no more than 8 tablets can be taken in a day’s time.
The Term Paper on Antacids An Antacid Sodium Bicarbonate
An antacid is a medication taken by mouth for the purpose of relieving pain associated with acid indigestion, ulcers, and heartburn. The name anti-acid literally means opposite acid; with respect to the pH scale (which will be discussed later), the opposite of an acid is a base, so it is not surprising to learn that commercially sold antacids are basic, or alkaline. They work by neutralizing ...
Each tablet also contains 325 mg of Aspirin and 1000 mg of citric acid. Maalox contains 200 mg of Aluminum hydroxide and 200 mg of Magnesium hydroxide in one teaspoonful. Four teaspoonfuls can be taken four times a day as symptoms persist. Each teaspoonful also contains 20 mg of Simethicone. This helps prevent gas. The inactive ingredients are, sodium, flavor, , microcrystalline cellulose, , purified water, saccharin sodium, and sorbitol.
Mylanta contains all of the same ingredients as Maalox in the same amounts except for that it does not contain saccharin sodium. In a day, no more than 24 teaspoonfuls can be taken. If you don’t want to take antacids for heartburn, there are lifestyle changes that you can make. Quitting smoking or losing weight can alleviate or prevent heartburn. Sleeping with the head of the bed elevated 6 in helps prevent the stomach’s contents from flowing back into the esophagus. Going to bed on an empty stomach, and cutting back on consumption of alcohol, fat, chocolate, and peppermint also can prevent heartburn.
Finally, eating smaller and more frequent meals is another way that you can prevent heartburn. Bibliography web “Digestive System.” Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia. 1999.” The Stomach.” Student Reference Library. 1997.
