Antacids are medicines that counteract (neutralise) the acid in your stomach. They are used to relieve indigestion and heartburn.
Many different types of antacid are available.
They come as a liquid or chewable tablets. You can buy them from pharmacies and shops without a prescription.
Some are sold under a brand name and others are named after their main ingredient.
Common brand names include Rennie, Gaviscon, Maalox, Bisodol, and Milk of Magnesia.
Ingredients to look for include:
- aluminium hydroxide
- magnesium carbonate
- magnesium trisilicate
- magnesium hydroxide
- calcium carbonate
- sodium bicarbonate
Some antacids also contain other medicines, such as:
- alginate - this coats your gullet with a protective layer
- simeticone - this helps reduce bloating and trapped wind (farting)
Uses of antacids
Antacids may help if you have:
- indigestion
- heartburn or acid reflux – also known as gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD)
Your GP may decide to use antacids to help treat stomach ulcers and gastritis (inflammation of the stomach lining).
They can relieve your symptoms for a few hours. But they do not treat the underlying cause.
Long-term use of antacids is not recommended. Taking antacids for a long time may mask the signs of more serious disease.
Talk to your GP if you are taking antacids often.
Severe allergic reaction
A severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to antacids is rare. But you will need to go to an emergency department (ED) if you have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction.
Emergency action required: Go to an ED or phone a GP immediately if you:
- get a skin rash
- develop swelling
- have shortness of breath
Stop taking the antacids you are on.
Check if you can take antacids
Antacids are safe for most people to take, but they are not suitable for everyone. Some antacids are not recommended for children.
Talk to a pharmacist or your GP for advice first if you:
- are taking other medicines
- are looking for a medicine for a child under 12 years of age
- have liver disease, kidney disease or heart failure
- need to control how much salt is in your diet
- have high levels of calcium in your blood
- have low levels of phosphate in your blood
Pregnant or breastfeeding
Most antacids are safe to take if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. But talk to a pharmacist or your GP for advice before taking them.
How and when to take antacids
Check the instructions on the packet or leaflet to see how much antacid to take and how often. This depends on the exact medicine you're taking.
Use antacids when you have symptoms or think you will get them soon. For most people, the best time to take them is with or soon after meals, and before going to bed.
Doses for children may be lower than for adults.
Talk to your GP or pharmacist if you take more than the recommended dose and start to feel unwell.
Eating and drinking
It's best to take antacids with food or soon after eating. This is when you're most likely to get indigestion or heartburn.
The effect of the medicine may also last longer if you take it with food.
You can drink alcohol while taking antacids. But alcohol can irritate your stomach and make your symptoms worse.
Side effects of antacids
Antacids do not have many side effects. But you should only take them from time to time and at the recommended dose.
Check the instructions on the packet or leaflet to see how much antacid to take and how to use this medicine.
Sometimes they can cause:
- diarrhoea or constipation
- farting (wind)
- stomach cramps
- feeling sick or vomiting
Any side effects should stop when you stop taking the medicine.
Talk to a pharmacist or a GP if side effects do not improve or are troublesome. You may need to switch to another medicine.
Read the patient information leaflet that comes with your medicine for a full list of side effects.
You can report any suspected side effects to the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) - hpra.ie
Taking antacids with other medicines
Antacids can affect how well other medicines work. Sometimes, they can stop other medicines working properly.
Talk to a pharmacist or GP about taking antacids if you are taking other medicines or supplements.
Do not take other medicines within 2 to 4 hours of taking an antacid.
Finding your patient information leaflet online
Your patient information leaflet (PIL) is the leaflet that comes in the package of your medicine.
To find your PIL online, visit Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) - hpra.ie
- In the 'Find a medicine' search box, enter the brand name of your medicine. A list of matching medicines appears.
- To the right of your medicine, select ‘PIL’. A PDF of the PIL opens in a new window.
You can also:
- Select the brand name of your medicine.
- Scroll down to the Documents section.
- From the Package Leaflet line, select PDF version. A PDF of the PIL opens in a new window.
If your PIL is not on the HPRA website, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) website opens in a new window when you select ‘PIL’.
You can find your PIL on the EMA website.
Finding your PIL on the EMA website
If your PIL is not on the HPRA website, you will be sent to European Medicines Agency (EMA) - ema.europa.eu.
To find your PIL on the EMA website:
- In the 'Medicines' search box, enter the brand name of your medicine and the word ‘epar’. For example: ‘Zoely epar’. A list of matching medicines appears.
- Select the ‘Human medicine European public assessment report (EPAR)’ for your medicine
- From the table of contents, select Product information.
- Select the EPAR – Product Information link for your medicine. A PDF opens in a new window. The PIL information is in Annex III of the PDF under ‘labelling and package leaflet’
This content was fact checked by a pharmacist, a GP, the National Medication Safety Programme (Safermeds) and the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA).
