Acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) occurs when the stomach acid flows into the esophagus, causing heartburn and regurgitation.
People with GERD often have symptoms of burning sensation in the middle of the chest, acidic taste in the mouth, and sometimes, sour regurgitation.
Most people with acid reflux use over-the-counter (OTC) generic drugs to treat acute or mild symptoms. In fact, generic OTC drugs for acid reflux are among the first treatments people use for GERD.
However, some people treat their GERD symptoms with simple lifestyle changes, such as avoiding spicy, hot, and fatty foods. If you make these lifestyle changes and your symptoms fail to improve within a few weeks, you must see a doctor who may suggest OTC drugs.
OTC generic drugs for acid reflux include:
Antacids
Antacids are probably the first line of treatment doctors suggest to ease acute heartburn symptoms. These drugs improve acid reflux symptoms by reducing the amount of stomach acid. Generally, antacids work quickly and offer relief within minutes compared to other drugs. These medicines contain aluminum, magnesium, calcium, or some combination of these substances. Common OTC generic antacids include:
- Gelusil
- Alka-Seltzer
- Tums
- Maalox
- Mylanta
- Pepto-Bismol
- Rolaids
H2 Blockers
H2 blockers are commonly used GERD drugs that reduce the amount of acid secretion in your stomach, treating or preventing heartburn. Typically, they act slowly than antacids; however, they provide longer symptom relief, which may last up to 8 to 12 hours. Some of the OTC H2 blockers include:
- Cimetidine (Generic Tagamet)
- Famotidine (Generic Pepcid)
- Nizatidine (Generic Axid)
- Ranitidine (Generic Zantac)
Generic Pepcid appears to be more affordable than Generic Tagamet. According to GoodRx, the lowest price for generic famotidine is about $7, 59% cheaper than brand Pepcid that costs $17.08, while the lowest price for generic cimetidine is around $17.80, 67% cheaper than Tagamet that costs $54.48.
Note: In April 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recalled all forms of prescription and OTC ranitidine because they were tainted with unacceptable levels of NDMA, a potential carcinogen.
Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs)
PPIs are the most widely used acid reflux medications. Like H2 blockers, they block acid production in your stomach. PPIs are the most powerful acid-reducing drugs, which are extremely effective for GERD. Common examples of generic drugs for acid reflux belonging to PPIs include:
- Omeprazole (Generic Prilosec)
- Esomeprazole (Generic Nexium)
- Lansoprazole (Generic Prevacid)
- Pantoprazole (Generic Protonix)
- Rabeprazole (Generic Aciphex)
- Dexlansoprazole (Generic Dexilant)
PPIs come in both generic and brand versions. Generic versions tend to be much cheaper. For instance, the lowest price for the most common version of Generic Prilosec is around $9.06, 88% cheaper than brand Prilosec $77.47, according to GoodRx. If you have acid reflux and are not sure what kind of medication to take, check with a doctor or pharmacist. They can determine whether you have GERD and recommend a suitable generic drug for your acid reflux symptoms.
