Treatment of Indigestion

Health encyclopaedia - Alphabetical Topic List

| A |

| B |

| C |

| D |

| E |

| F |

| G |

| H |

| I |

| J |

| K |

| L |

| M |

| N |

| O |

| P |

| Q |

| R |

| S |

| T |

| U |

| V |

| W |

| X |

| Y |

Treatment depends on what is causing indigestion. For most mild cases of indigestion, making simple changes to your diet and lifestyle can help. This means eating small, regular meals, reducing the amount of fat in your diet, and avoiding foods that you know trigger symptoms, such as spicy or rich foods. You should also cut down on the amount of alcohol you drink and stop smoking. Managing stress better and sleeping slightly propped up on two pillows can also help.

Sometimes your GP may recommend making changes to your current medication if they think that is causing the problem. (You should not stop taking any medication without consulting your GP first).

You can buy a range of non-prescription medicines from your pharmacy, including:

Antacids: Antacids are alkali liquids or tablets that can neutralise the stomach acid (make it less acidic). Antacids contain substances called alginates, which create a foamy layer at the top of stomach, helping to protect the lining and stopping acid escaping into the gullet. Antacids are useful for occasional bouts of indigestion, and can be taken as and when you need them. Some are available on prescription.
H2 Antagonists: This group of drugs is more powerful than antacids and useful if antacids donâ€™t work. They work by reducing the amount of acid produced by the stomach.

Prescription-only treatment:

H. pylori is normally treated with a short course of two antibiotics and an acid suppressing medicine.
Proton pump inhibitors: These drugs work in a similar way to H2 antagonists, by blocking the cells in the stomach from making acid.