If you experience symptoms that are worse at night and disrupt your sleep, try raising the head of your bed. Avoid eating large or late meals and avoid lying down immediately after meals. fatty foods, spicy foods, chocolate, coffee, cola drinks, orange juice and alcohol). Identify and avoid foods and drinks that make your symptoms worse (e.g. Stop smokingĭiscuss ways to quit smoking with your health professional, such as nicotine replacement therapies, or call the Quitline on 13 QUIT (13 78 48). Making changes to your lifestyle may help control your symptoms and reduce the need for medicine. stop treatment completely as your symptoms may not return.limit your treatment so that you take medicine only when you experience the symptoms of heartburn and reflux (also known as on-demand therapy).Your doctor may recommend ‘stepping down’ your treatment, which can include any of the following:

If you’ve been taking a PPI for more than 4–8 weeks, and your symptoms seem to be well managed, talk to your doctor about reviewing your medicine. However, PPIs should not be taken long term when not needed, because of the cost and possible side effects. PPI medicines work by reducing the amount of acid made by the stomach and are very effective at controlling symptoms of reflux and heartburn. Some people with more regular or severe symptoms – people with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) – may need a prescription medicine known as a proton pump inhibitor (PPI). Many people can control their symptoms by making lifestyle changes or by taking over-the-counter (non-prescription) medicines as needed. Do you need a medicine?Īcid reflux – also described as heartburn – is a condition where acid from the stomach moves up into your oesophagus (food pipe). If your symptoms are well managed, talk to your doctor about reviewing your medicine. Prescription medicine for heartburn and reflux, called a proton pump inhibitor, is often only needed for 4-8 weeks.

Heart burn medicine