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Diseases & Conditions
Is it okay to use proton-pump inhibitors on demand?
- By Heidi Godman, Executive Editor, Harvard Health Letter
It depends on your health and the frequency of symptoms, but it can be done in certain instances.
Proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) are effective treatments for chronic heartburn caused by gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Several, such as omeprazole (Prilosec, Zegerid), lansoprazole (Prevacid), and esomeprazole (Nexium), are available over the counter as well as by prescription.
But they don’t rapidly relieve symptoms like two other classes of heartburn drugs — antacids and H2 blockers. That’s important to understand when your doctor says you can take PPIs "on demand."
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About the Author
Heidi Godman, Executive Editor, Harvard Health Letter
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As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles.
No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.
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