Health Conditions A-Z Digestive Health Heartburn Heartburn? 7 Medications That Can Help Stomach acid has the same pH as battery acid. Here are 7 drugs that can help fight killer heartburn. By Amanda Gardner Amanda Gardner Website Amanda Gardner is a freelance health reporter whose stories have appeared in cnn.com, health.com, cnn.com, WebMD, HealthDay, Self Magazine, the New York Daily News, Teachers & Writers Magazine, the Foreign Service Journal, AmeriQuests (Vanderbilt University) and others. In 2009, she served as writer-in-residence at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. She is also a community artist and recipient or partner in five National Endowment for the Arts grants. health's editorial guidelines Published on September 14, 2011 Share Tweet Pin Email Heartburn occurs when acid in the stomach seeps up into the esophagus. Stomach acid is nearly as acidic as battery acid, so it’s not surprising that heartburn can pack a wallop. (The painful burning sensation is sometimes mistaken for a heart attack, in fact.) The good news is, there are enough heartburn remedies to fill a whole aisle of the drugstore and several shelves in the pharmacy to boot. The bad news is, you may have no idea how to tell the many options apart. Here’s a quick guide. 01 of 07 Antacids Sold as: Maalox, Mylanta, Pepcid, Rolaids, Tums Where to find them: Available over-the-counter as a tablet (regular or chewable), capsule, or liquid. How they work: Antacids usually contain some combination of magnesium, calcium, and aluminum in the form of hydroxide or bicarbonate salts that counteract or neutralize the acid in your stomach. Potential side effects: Diarrhea, constipation, stomach upset, nausea. 02 of 07 Bismuth subsalicylate Sold as: Kaopectate, Pepto-Bismol Where to find it: Available over the counter as a tablets, caplets, or liquid. How it works: Treats diarrhea by reducing the amount of bad bacteria in the intestine that could be causing the diarrhea. Potential side effects: Darkening of the tongue and stool. 03 of 07 Foaming agents Sold as: Gaviscon Where to find them: Available over-the-counter as a tablet or liquid. How it works: Creates a layer of foam that floats on top of the stomach contents, keeping them in the stomach where they belong. Potential side effects: Nausea, constipation, diarrhea. 04 of 07 H2 blockers Sold as: Pepcid AC, Tagamet HB, Zantac 75 (which are also available in generic versions). Where to find them: Available in liquid and tablet form, over-the-counter or by prescription (depending on the strength). How they work: Reduce acid production in the stomach. Potential side effects: Headache, diarrhea, constipation, dizziness, and sleepiness. High doses over long periods of time can lead to breast enlargement and sexual problems in men. 05 of 07 Prokinetics Sold as: bethanechol (Urecholine), metoclopramide (Reglan) Where to find them: Available by prescription only, in liquid and tablet form. How they work: They strengthen the lower esophageal sphincter (which keeps acid out of the esophagus) and help the stomach empty faster. Reglan also improves muscle action in the digestive tract. Potential side effects: Dizziness, drowsiness, depression, anxiety. 06 of 07 Proton pump inhibitors Sold as: Aciphex, Dexilant, Nexium, Prevacid, Prilosec, Protonix, Zegerid (many are also available in generic versions). Where to find them: Available by prescription; Prilosec and Prevacid can also be obtained over-the-counter. How they work: Inhibit acid production. Potential side effects: Headache, diarrhea, constipation, stomach pain, dizziness, cough. Proton pump inhibitors have also been linked to an increased risk of some bone fractures and infections. 07 of 07 Simethicone Sold as: Alka-Seltzer, Gas-X Where to find it: Available over-the-counter as a tablet (regular or chewable), liquid, or capsule. How it works: Speeds the passage of gas out of the body. Potential side effects: Few or none if taken as directed. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit