Thursday, September 25, 2008

Medications That Cause Heartburn

Medications That Cause Heartburn: Avoid Taking Zocor As Much As Possible

Unfortunately, there are a few medications that can cause heartburn and among others you will certainly need to be on the lookout for the drug known as Zocor a.k.a Simvastatin. What is this drug used for, you might ask? It is commonly used by people that need to control high bad cholesterol levels and is also used along with a change in diet as recommended by a doctor. Far from being a problem drug, Zocor does not by it deserve to be labeled as a medication that causes heartburn.

Dangerous Side Effects

It is the side effects of Zocor that make it a drug that must be handled very carefully. The sad truth is that one side effect to using Zocor is causing heartburn. This should lead you to wonder just how do you do without medications that cause heartburn such as Zocor and still control your cholesterol levels. This is a question that can best be answered by a doctor. However, you could try changing to a low cholesterol diet and also eschew eating foods with high fat content and in addition you need to also curtail eating excess of carbohydrates.

Though these means are effective, many people are still not able to stop taking medications that cause heartburn such as Zocor. What is even more interesting is the fact that the same diet that is useful in lowering cholesterol is also effective in reducing the risk of heartburn.

In any case, if you are someone that suffers from acid reflux and are on medications to treat your problem you need to consult your doctor regarding the fact that the medications you are taking could in fact be one of those medications that cause heartburn. It is well known that one of the side effects of taking medications to control acid reflux is that your lower esophageal sphincter starts to relax and this relaxation lets the stomach acid escape out of your stomach and into your esophagus and consequently you will suffer from heartburn.

To avoid taking medications that cause heartburn it is necessary that you look for alternative remedies to whatever problem is making you take those medications. Your doctor should diagnose your condition and then prescribe you drugs that are safe and which will not cause side effects that will lead to development of heartburn.

Another trouble area that people need to address is alcohol causing heartburn. Most of us like to imbibe a drink or two of alcohol in order to relax and feel less stressed. However, there is enough evidence to suggest that drinking alcohol can lead to heartburn because alcohol too makes the lower esophagus sphincter relax. It is therefore necessary that you start limiting your intake of alcohol; else, you will have to contend with heartburn pain.

Sometimes, medications that cause heartburn can cause your lower esophageal sphincter to relax so much that only endoscopic surgery can bring the sphincter up to its proper level once more. It is therefore a good idea to be aware of medications that cause heartburn and then try and find suitable and alternative remedies.

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