Reflux sufferers I need your help

Tarta

My midwives gave me the clear to try nearly any otc heartburn meds to see what helps me best and if I didn't feel any of them helped enough they would give me a prescription. Uh, this gives me no direction. I've been using pepcid ac and that has helped, but I feel like I need more help preventing the acid buildup which then keeps me gagging and tasting sour.

What are you using? I'm headed to the drug store soon. What should I try next? Any suggestions are helpful.

MainelyFoolish

When I'm not pregnant, Prevacid 15mg (the otc dose) works for me. I recently had to switch to Prevacid 30mg (prescription) because the smaller dose wasn't controlling the acid enough anymore and I was waking up every night with heartburn.

HarmsMomma

Zantac, get the 75 mg pill take it twice a day. (I take it breakfast and before dinner). When (or if) it stops helping, take it once a day (I take it at breakfast then).

Target has their own "off brand" and it's super cheap. I love it and it works well for me!

Tarta

MainelyFoolish:

When I'm not pregnant, Prevacid 15mg (the otc dose) works for me. I recently had to switch to Prevacid 30mg (prescription) because the smaller dose wasn't controlling the acid enough anymore and I was waking up every night with heartburn.

Thanks! I woke up with heartburn last night myself. Maybe I will start with the Prevacid 15 today and see if it's enough to help. I rarely if ever have heartburn when I'm not pregnant so I don't have any old standbys. 

MarisaKathleen

Unfortunately all I use is Tums.  3 of my pregnant girlfriends are all on actual meds.

Tarta

MarisaKathleen:

Unfortunately all I use is Tums.  3 of my pregnant girlfriends are all on actual meds.

Oh I've got those too, but they really don't touch the full issue. Sometimes they help between doses of Pepcid.  

anna2029

I take 150mg of Zantac 2x day. It's what I took when not pregnant too. Doc gave me the ok this time. I have SEVERE reflux. The zantac doesn't take it away, just dulls it down to where I'm able to not be completely miserable 

watercolor5

I've had bad Gerd with a sliding hiatal hernia (stomach slides into my esophagus) since before becoming pregnant.  I started treating my heartburn with zantac, but my body got used to it.  I then went to Prilosec, which my body also got used to, so it stopped working.  I wouldn't take prilosec while pregnant, because it's Class C. 

My OB had recommended pepcid AC, but the only thing I've found work for me is a PPI (Proton pump inhibitor), so I take prescription Nexium (one of the few PPIs that's class B.)

I never tried Prevacid, so if Pepcid doesn't work, I'd try zantac or prevacid next, and if all else fails, nexium has been a Godsend.  GL!

Tarta

watercolor5:

I've had bad Gerd with a sliding hiatal hernia (stomach slides into my esophagus) since before becoming pregnant.  I started treating my heartburn with zantac, but my body got used to it.  I then went to Prilosec, which my body also got used to, so it stopped working.  I wouldn't take prilosec while pregnant, because it's Class C. 

My OB had recommended pepcid AC, but the only thing I've found work for me is a PPI (Proton pump inhibitor), so I take prescription Nexium (one of the few PPIs that's class B.)

I never tried Prevacid, so if Pepcid doesn't work, I'd try zantac or prevacid next, and if all else fails, nexium has been a Godsend.  GL!

Thank you! I've been treated for a sliding hiatal hernia pre-pregnancy too so sometimes my heartburn symptoms aren't really a heartburn feeling, but that awful painful pressure from the hernia (it feels sorta like when I had gallbladder attacks). In my head I'm thinking I might need something more than OTC, but I will try the Prevacid and Zantac. I'll keep the nexium in my mind for if these don't seem to be working. 

Salleybelle

Nothing was working for me...so finally my Dr. prescribed Protonix.  It's a life saver. 

ELCJet

I find that Zantac can work better than Pepcid, but when Zantac fails, Prilosec rocks.  I've been on Prilosec since 21 weeks.

elizabethwig

another vote for zantac. i only take it when i need it though (usually every other or every third morning) - weirdly, i've been eating complete crap this week (business trip) and i haven't had to take it once.