Many of us run to the pharmacy as soon as we feel any kind of heartburn. When we get to the pharmacy, we're bombarded by different remedies. One type of remedy we can take are called H2 Blockers.
I thought maybe you'd like some more information on these drugs:
Examples of H2 Blockers
Generic Name |
Brand Name |
cimetidine |
Tagamet |
famotidine |
Pepcid |
nizatidine |
Axid |
ranitidine |
Zantac |
H2 blockers (also sometimes referred to as acid reducers or
H2 receptor antagonists) are available in nonprescription and prescription
forms. Prescription forms are stronger than the nonprescription forms.
H2 blockers are usually taken by mouth, although some can also be given
as an injection. Two doses (morning and evening) are generally recommended to
control both daytime and nighttime symptoms. Doctors sometimes recommend a
single dose, taken at bedtime, for people who have difficulty remembering to
take their medicines.
How It Works
H2 blockers reduce the production of
stomach acid. This makes the
stomach juices less acidic so that any
stomach juice
that gets into the
esophagus is less irritating. This relieves symptoms and
allows the esophagus to heal.
Why It Is Used
H2 blockers are used to treat the
symptoms of
gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). They may be
prescribed for your symptoms without any diagnostic testing if your symptoms
point to
GERD.
- H2 blockers may be used together with
antacids.
- Nonprescription H2 blockers may be used for up to 2 weeks for
short-term symptom relief. But if you have been using nonprescription medicines
to treat your symptoms for longer than 2 weeks, talk to your doctor. If you
have GERD, the stomach acid could be causing damage to your esophagus. Your
doctor can help you find the right treatment.
- H2
blockers may be used on a long-term basis to relieve persistent GERD
symptoms.
How Well It Works
All of the H2 blockers in this class
are about equally effective.
H2 blockers heal the damage done to the esophagus by GERD (esophagitis) in about 5 out of 10 people.
H2 blockers also work to help symptoms of GERD. But the number
of people who take H2 blockers and who have no GERD symptoms is usually
less than 5 out of 10 people. That means that of the people taking H2
blockers, more than 5 out of 10 still have some GERD symptoms.
Side Effects
H2 blockers have been in use since the
late 1960s. H2 blockers are well studied and are considered very safe.
Minimal side effects occur with use of H2 blockers. Side effects may
include:
See Drug Reference for a full list of side effects. (Drug
Reference is not available in all systems.)