Is tums an h2 blocker?

Are you dealing with heartburn, acid reflux, or other related digestive issues? If so, you may be searching for a remedy to ease your discomfort. One potential option that comes up in many searches is the use of Tums. But wait – is Tums even an H2 blocker?

In this article, we’ll explore what exactly H2 blockers are and how they differ from antacids like Tums. We’ll also dive into whether or not Tums qualifies as an H2 blocker and provide some alternatives if that’s what you’re looking for.

What are H2 blockers anyway?

H2 blockers are medications that work to reduce stomach acid production by blocking histamine receptors in our body¹. This reduction in stomach acid can help alleviate symptoms associated with various gastrointestinal disorders such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), peptic ulcers, and Zollinger-Ellison syndrome².

There are several types of commonly prescribed h2 blockers such as cimetidine (Tagamet®), famotidine (Pepcid®), ranitidine (Zantac®). They all work in slightly different ways but the end result is the same- less stomach acid being produced³.

So now we know what they do! Great stuff! Let’s move on…

How do antacids come into play?

Antacids like Tums have been used for decades to provide nearly instant relief from heartburn⁴ . When ingested it neutralizes excess gastric acided. The main active ingredient found within over-the-counter antacid medication products such as Pepto-Bismol®, milk of magnesia or Alka-Seltzer™ reacts chemically with excessive amount of acids present inside your intestine thus bringing almost immediate relief5 5 .

Most antacid preparations compirise combinations of three salts- magnesium hydroxide, aluminum hydroxide and calcium carbonate. While they may offer temporary relief to people experiencing heartburn, these medications do not actually reduce stomach acid output like H2 blockers do¹⁷

My goodness! Is Tums an H2 blocker

In short – it is not. I’m so sorry if you were hoping for a swift answer but hear me out.

While both antacids and H2 blockers essentially work towards the same goal of reducing symptoms associated with overactive acid reflux, they approach it from different angles.

Antacid medication reduces the amount of acid present in your gut by neutralizing excessive amounts while h2-blockers completely decrease its production7 .

As previously mentioned , Tums relieves heartburn rather swiftly. But what about when your discomfort is something more than just heart burn ? For long-term management or upkeep solutions, using Tums every time can become cumbersome given that it doesn’t address the root cause

To Summarise- If you suffer frequent gastric issues beyond JUST HEARTBURN you might want to consider something other than tums alone _ such as maybe an H2-blocker_ which will effectively reduce production of excess acids inside the intestine.

Other potential remedies for digestive ailments

Now that we know Tums aren’t quite doing the trick to solve all our gastric problems and are at best just providing resounder temporary relief / stopgap measures; here are some alternative routes:

PPI(PROTON PUMP INHIBITORS)

PPIs work by blocking proton pumps (enzymes) used by stomach lining cells to produce stomach acid15 . They have been shown effective in treating GERD symptoms and help heal any related damages incurred resulting from prolonged illness16 .
Pantoprazole (Protonix), omeprazole (Prilosec), esomeprazole(Nexium)64 are common prescribed forms

LifeStyle Changes

A more affordable approach with little negative side-effects is one of invest in simple lifestyle adjustments, such as eating earlier during the evening or elevating your head between a box spring and mattress to alleviate nocturnal reflux7 .

Reducing portions at meal times, quitting smoking and carrying out regular physical activity can also make significant positive impacts on digestion.

Herbal Options

Lastly but certainly not leat♥ – Some herbs categorised as bitters have been known to ease stomach issues for centuries.
Ginger , chamomile & Valerian root herbal products are available in various forms like capsules or teas that you can try6 .

The Wrap-up

So there we have it – no Tums is NOT an H2-blocker but rather a fast acting antacid That said- temporary relief from such product doesn’t quite cut it when chronic gastric issues begins interfere with quality of life.

However H2 blockers work better towards long-term management making them useful for sufferers over longer periods. Especially recommended if heartburn runs so deep as being coupled with nighttime acid reflux; completely ceasing continued production will become essential instead stopping occasional excess acids through popping a Tum here or there

DISCLAIMER

This article was simply created with the intension of providing comedic relief opposed to actual trustworthy advice Please consult an especialist before considering applying any medication