How Do You Take Proton Pump Inhibitors?
Proton pump inhibitors should not be the first medicine you try to relieve heartburn. You should use a milder drug for immediate relief, such as Tums or Rolaids. Consider discussing proton pump inhibitors with your doctor if other heartburn drugs do not work or you get heartburn more than two or three times per week. Although one type of proton pump inhibitor (Prilosec OTC) is available over the counter, most of them are by prescription only. Talk to your doctor even if you use the over-the-counter version, since these drugs can have interactions with other medications you might be taking. Follow these instructions for getting the relief you need from your proton pump inhibitors. Keep a food diary for a week in a notebook. This is a record of foods you eat, your stress level and whether you experienced heartburn from any of your meals. This should be presented to your doctor to discuss dietary changes. For proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) to work most effectively, you should know which fo
