How Do Acid Reducing Medications Work — Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on Unsplash

Uneasiness in the throat. Heart burn. Hiccups that don't go away.

Mild, moderate or severe, but we all have experienced acidity in our lifetime.

Sometimes home remedies help us feel better, but if persistent, we have no choice but to opt for medications.

But, have you ever wondered how do these acid reducing medications work?

In this article, we shall discuss about:

What is acidity?
How do Acid Reducing Medications Work?
What are the side-effects of these medications?

1. What causes acidity?

Acidity is the common term medically attributed to GERD or Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease.

Esophagus is our food pipe, which connects the oral cavity to the stomach. At point of junction between our stomach and esophagus, there is a valve that prevents the reflux of the stomach acid into the esophagus.

When the valve is unable to close property or due to some reasons, is unable to prevent the back flow of stomach acid into your esophagus, it causes acidity.

Acidity irritates the linings of your esophagus and can result into chest pain, heart burn and vomiting.

2. So How do Acid Reducing Medications work?

There are basically two types of acid reducing medications.

A. Anti-secretory medications: They work by reducing the secretion of the gastric acid.

B. Antacids: They work by reducing the the acidity of the gastric juice.

A. Anti-secretory medications

Anti-secretory medications work based on the principle of H2 Receptor antagonists or PPI (Proton Pump Inhibitors).

The stomach acid is basically Hydrochloric acid (HCl), so Hydrogen (H2) receptors need to be activated via histamine to receive hydrogen and form the acid.

The H2 antagonists bind with H2 receptors. As a result, histamine cannot bind with these receptors and HCl cannot be formed.

The PPI (Proton Pump Inhibitors) work by inhibiting the H+/K+/ATPase pumps commonly known as Proton Pumps as they work via exchange of H+ and K+ (Potassium).

As, a result of these medications, the secretion of gastric acid is slowed down or inhibited.

B. Antacids

Antacids include weak bases like Aluminum hydroxide or Magnesium hydroxide.

Since these weak bases are not easily absorbed in the stomach, they work to neutralize the gastric acid by absorbing some H+.

3. What are the side-effects of these medications?

The anti-secretory medication , H2 antagonists, is generally considered safe and side-effects include constipation, fatigue, diarrhea.

H2 antagonists, however can cross the placenta, so they should be avoided during pregnancy.

Similarly, the Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) are also quite safe and side-effects include abdominal pain and nauseas.

However, prolonged acid suppression has been linked with reduced absorption of other micronutrients like calcium, magnesium and Vitamin B12.

Antacids also have little or no side-effects for healthy individuals, but common side-effects include low blood potassium, and muscle weaknesses.

Summary

Acid reducing medications work as antacids and anti-secretory medications, helping reduce the HCl secretion or its content in the gastric juice. They are generally considered safe, but it is best advisable to consult a medical professional and undergo clinical diagnosis before opting for their use.

References

https://www.rxlist.com/antacids/drugs-condition.htm

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4110863/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3946491/

https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/acid-reflux-ger-gerd-adults

How Do Acid Reducing Medications Work