Treatment Options

Medical Treatment
Changes in diet and lifestyle may relieve GERD symptoms in some patients.

Diet and Lifestyle Modification

• Avoid stimulating foods such as coffee, alcohol, carbonated drinks, rich foods, spicy foods and acidic foods
• Avoid eating close to bedtime
• Avoid stooping, kneeling and bending over
• Avoid wearing tight clothes
• Do not sleep flat – elevate your head 6-8 inches
• Lose weight
• Do not overeat

Medication
Drug therapy provides symptom relief, not a cure, for most patients but is often required for the lifetime of the patient. Drugs work by neutralizing and/or decreasing acid production.

• Simple:  baking soda, Tums
• Stomach coating:  Carafate
• Stimulating stomach emptying:  Reglan
• Neutralizing:  Maalox, Mylanta, Gellucil
• Stops acid production –
  • H2 blockers:  Tagamet, Zantac, Pepcid
  • PPI:  Prilosec, Prevacid

Other Treatment Options
For patients whose symptoms are not adequately controlled by diet modification or medications, Endoscopic or Surgical treatment may be necessary.