Acid reflux happens when stomach acid enters the esophagus. There are multiple causes, yet smoking, pregnancy, drinking alcohol and eating highly acidic foods are the most common culprits. Any grocery store has multiple remedies for acid reflux that fall in to three main categories: liquids, tablets and pills.
Liquids
Liquids can be used to treat multiple stomach ailments, with acid reflux/heartburn being one of them. Pepto Bismol and Maalox are the two most common. In addition to neutralizing the acid, they also calm your stomach.
Tablets
Chewable, powdery tablets are one of the most used ways to treat acid reflux. The two main kinds are Tums and Pepcid A/C. Tums is a calcium supplement that will neutralize the acid and can be used as a vitamin. In addition to neutralizing acid, Pepcid A/C also includes the chemical famotidine, which is used as a remedy for stomach ulcers.
Pills
There are pills you can take that will reduce the amount of acid in your stomach, which is an effective way to get rid of acid reflux. Zantac 75 and Prilosec OTC are the two over-the-counter pill remedies. These pills are a light version of prescription medicine and they are intended for temporary use only. Zantac 75 will take an hour or so to kick in. Prilosec OTC may take up to a day and should be taken once a day over a one- to two-week period.
