Home Symptoms Heartburn

Heartburn — what to take?

Heartburn (pyrosis) = a burning sensation behind the sternum, rising from the epigastrium towards the throat. Main cause: gastro-oesophageal reflux. 20-40% of the population has occasional episodes.

6 recommended OTC drugs
4,387 pharmacies available

OTC — no prescription

What you can take for heartburn

Informativ. Nu înlocuiește sfatul medicului. Consultă medicul sau farmacistul înainte de a lua orice medicament.

Mechanism and triggers

The lower oesophageal sphincter relaxes inappropriately, allowing acid to rise. Triggers: large meals, fatty/spicy foods, coffee, alcohol, chocolate, mint, citrus, smoking, lying down immediately after meals, obesity, pregnancy, medications (NSAIDs, calcium antagonists).

OTC treatment

Antacids - aluminium + magnesium hydroxide (Maalox, Almagel), calcium carbonate (Rennie). Rapid effect, duration 1-3h. Useful for occasional episodes.

Alginate (Gaviscon) - floating layer blocking reflux. Excellent post-meal. Can be combined with antacid.

H2 blockers - famotidine (Famodin, Quamatel). Duration 8-12h. Useful preventively before a triggering meal.

PPIs - omeprazole, esomeprazole, pantoprazole. For frequent symptoms (more than 2-3 times/week). Taken in the morning, 30 min before meals.

Lifestyle measures

  • Raise the head of the bed 15-20 cm.
  • Do not lie down for 2-3h after a meal.
  • Lose weight if appropriate.
  • Small, frequent meals.
  • Identify and avoid personal triggers.
  • Quit smoking, limit alcohol.

When investigations are needed

Heartburn persisting over 4-8 weeks on a PPI, dysphagia, weight loss, digestive bleeding, anaemia, age over 55 with new symptoms - all indicate endoscopy.

Medical disclaimer: the information in this guide is for informational purposes only and does not replace the advice of a physician or pharmacist. For diagnosis and treatment, consult a healthcare professional.

Nights, weekends, holidays

24/7 pharmacies for heartburn

Heartburn doesn't wait for office hours. If you need a medicine at 2 AM or on a weekend, open the map with the 24/7 filter on and find the nearest on-call pharmacy. Major cities have several round-the-clock pharmacies — the per-city pages below list them all, with address, phone and verified opening hours.

Call ahead before you leave, especially at night — on-call schedules can change and stock for some prescription items may be limited between deliveries.

Search the pharmacy

Medicine categories for heartburn

Step by step

How to find a pharmacy fast for heartburn

Open the interactive map and grant location permission — you'll immediately see pharmacies sorted by distance, each with its opening hours and a one-tap route in Google Maps. If it's night or a weekend, switch on the 24/7 filter to keep only the on-call ones. For heartburn most of the listed remedies are over the counter, so you can walk in without a prescription, but check stock and prices first to avoid wasted trips.

If you have a preferred active ingredient (paracetamol, ibuprofen, etc.), search it in the comparator before you leave — you'll see which chain has it cheapest near you and whether it's in stock. For chronic prescriptions, save your favourite pharmacy in the app and turn on hours notifications — it saves unnecessary trips, especially when treatment for heartburn runs over weeks.

When to see a doctor

If any of these signs appear, consult a doctor — OTC treatment is not enough:

  • Progressive dysphagia
  • Weight loss
  • Gastrointestinal bleeding (vomiting blood, black stools)
  • New symptoms over age 55
  • Resistance to PPI for 4-8 weeks

Frequently asked

Common questions

Antacid or omeprazole?
Occasional episodes - antacid. Frequent symptoms (2-3x/week) - omeprazole. For post-meal prevention - Gaviscon.
How long do I take omeprazole?
Self-medication - maximum 14 days. If symptoms return, consult your doctor for evaluation and long-term strategy.
Which foods should I avoid?
Fats, fried foods, spicy dishes, coffee, chocolate, mint, orange juice, concentrated tomatoes, alcohol, carbonated drinks.
Can reflux lead to cancer?
Untreated chronic reflux can cause Barrett's oesophagus, with risk of adenocarcinoma. That is why endoscopy is important for prolonged symptoms.

See also

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