What should people expect from their heartburn treatment?
Some people will have almost complete symptom resolution with their heartburn treatment. Other people will feel much better on their treatment, but may still be having symptoms.
The important thing is to tell your doctor if you are still experiencing symptoms so that they can be resolved.
How can people tell if they’re getting symptom resolution?
You can tell if you’re having symptom resolution when:
- your symptoms go away completely
- you can sleep through the night without regurgitating or choking on fluid
- you can eat without worrying too much about what you’re eating, when you’re eating, or how much you’re eating
- you can exercise and bend over comfortably
If your symptoms are better, but you are still having problems doing the activities you enjoy, ask your doctor what can be done. It’s important to know that you have options.
How long does it usually take for symptoms to resolve?
This varies from person to person and from medication to medication. H2-receptor blockers (e.g., cimetidine, famotidine, ranitidine) typically work within one hour of being taken. Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) can take a few days to start working. If you’re taking PPIs (e.g., esomeprazole, omeprazole, pantoprazole) for your symptoms, it’s important to know that it may take weeks for things to get noticeably better.
What should patients do if they don’t get symptom resolution?
If you don’t have symptom resolution, talk to doctor about it. Your doctor will reassess your symptoms and treatment. Depending on the individual person, the doctor may check to make sure your symptoms are really due to reflux disease. They may also look into changing your medication, the dose of your medication, or how you’re using it.
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