People who use popular reflux medication could be making a huge error when taking it. A pharmacist has warned the mistake has the potential to lead to unwanted consequences
Thousands of people take medication every day, but sometimes making simple mistakes can mean it’s being used incorrectly. If you’re someone who takes medicine for acid reflux, you need to pay attention, as you could be making a costly error.
Pharmacist Anum has shared some expert advice about the medication, and it’s important to know as it could have a big impact on your health. Little you may know, there are some rules you need to follow when taking certain tablets, and it’s vital you adhere to them, as you could end up facing some unwanted consequences if you don’t pay attention.
It’s not the only essential piece of advice she’s shared lately either. Just days ago, she also issued an alert to people who use statins.
Pharmacist Anum said: “Taking your reflux medication at the wrong time could be making it less effective. If you, or somebody you know, takes proton pump inhibitors to help with things like reflux, such as omeprazole, lansoprazole or pantoprazole, timing is key.
“Now, before I tell you the best time to take them, we need to understand how these medications work. They work by blocking the acid pumps in your stomach.
“These acid pumps are most active when you are eating. As a result, if you take your medication after food or at random times, it won’t work as effectively.
“The best time to take the medication is 30 to 60 minutes before food. I usually like to recommend before breakfast if you’re only taking it once a day.
“If you’re taking it twice a day, take it 30 to 60 minutes before breakfast and 30 to 60 minutes before dinner. I hope you find this helpful.”
Little you may know, timing is crucial when it comes to taking reflux medication. There are a few rules you need to stick to for it to work properly.
What you need to know
Timing is considered critical to ensure reflux medication works to its maximum effectiveness. Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) like omeprazole should be taken 30 to 60 minutes before breakfast, while antacids work best around an hour after meals or at bedtime.
Getting the timing right ensures medication is active when stomach acid production is highest. If you use PPIs, you should also take them at the same time each day to get the best results.
As well as this, it’s important to note you should never take other medicines within two to four hours of taking an antacid. Abruptly stopping medication can also cause a “rebound” effect, which can lead to increased heartburn.
Therefore, you should never stop taking it without speaking to a doctor first. Never make changes without getting medical guidance.
If you’re worried about your health in any way, or have queries regarding medication, contact your GP or pharmacist for further advice. Professional guidance is always key.
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