When over-the-counter remedies don’t cut it, prescription heartburn medication, stronger drugs used to treat chronic acid reflux and GERD. Also known as GERD treatment drugs, these are meant for people who keep having heartburn despite lifestyle changes and basic antacids. This isn’t about quick fixes—it’s about managing a condition that can damage your esophagus if left unchecked.
Most prescription heartburn meds fall into two main groups: proton pump inhibitors, drugs that shut down the stomach’s acid-producing pumps. Also known as PPIs, they include omeprazole, esomeprazole, and pantoprazole. And H2 blockers, medications that reduce acid by blocking histamine receptors. Also known as histamine-2 receptor antagonists, examples include famotidine and ranitidine (though ranitidine is mostly off the market now due to safety concerns). PPIs are usually stronger and longer-lasting. H2 blockers kick in faster but don’t last as long. Your doctor picks based on how bad your symptoms are, how often they happen, and if you’ve had side effects before.
These drugs aren’t harmless. Long-term use of PPIs has been linked to lower magnesium, vitamin B12 deficiency, and a higher risk of bone fractures in some studies. H2 blockers are generally safer for longer use but can still cause headaches or digestive upset. That’s why they’re not meant for daily use unless your doctor says so. If you’re on one of these meds for more than a few months, ask about whether you still need it—or if there’s a way to lower the dose.
What you won’t find in most doctor’s offices is a one-size-fits-all solution. Some people respond better to PPIs. Others do fine on H2 blockers. A few need both, or even a combination with other drugs. And if you’ve tried everything and still have symptoms, it might not be acid at all—could be a motility issue, a hiatal hernia, or something else entirely. That’s why the posts below cover real comparisons: which drugs work best for whom, what side effects you might not know about, and how to tell if your treatment is actually working—or just masking the problem.
