The Dangers and Side Effects of Antacids
Do you have persistent heartburn? How many antacids do you go through in a single day? If you’ve ever taken a look at the label on the back of that bottle, you may have noticed that you’re not supposed to keep popping them; however, if you don’t, you’re suffering and breathing fire. In this post, we’re going to take a look at the side effects and dangers of antacid (one type of heartburn medication) use. So, why are antacids bad for you, can taking antacids daily be harmful, and what are the main side effects of antacids?
Can Taking Antacids Daily Be Harmful?
In short, yes. There’s a pretty good reason the bottle says to not continuously pop antacids on a daily basis. Unfortunately, taking some medications too frequently can cause issues within the body. Antacids are particularly concerning because they are technically also a dietary supplement - calcium. We’ll dig into this more in the following sections.
What Are the Main Side Effects of Antacids?
Constipation or Diarrhea
Antacids with aluminum cations present can lead to constipation, due to its effects on the stomach (aluminum tends to reduce the rate at which the stomach and intestines contract). It’s not the calcium itself causing the constipation in this case. In antacids with magnesium cations, the opposite reaction is observed: magnesium increases stomach and intestinal contractions, speeding up digestion.
Food Sensitivities
Since antacids disrupt the normal digestion processes in the stomach (a high acid environment that breaks foods down into manageable chunks), the processed slurry that gets passed onto the small intestine is at a greater risk of triggering the body’s immune response. The small intestine is specifically designed to process certain molecules and building blocks of foods. When our food does not get processed in the stomach correctly, issues develop down the line.
Calcium Overdose
This is a serious complication that may arise from using too many antacids within a short time period. Calcium is not meant to be continuously ingested and can cause some of the following issues for patients with acid reflux:
Impaired kidney function
Nausea and vomiting
Mental health issues
Kidney stones
Drug Interactions
In addition to the above issues, an altered stomach environment can lead to patients having trouble getting oral medications to work at full capacity. Oral medications are designed with the stomach’s natural acidity in mind. When we disrupt this with antacids, a medication’s effectiveness may be altered.
How to Beat Acid Reflux Without Antacids
Unfortunately, antacids do not treat the root cause of GERD - a weakened lower esophageal sphincter (LES) - and neither do proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). In order to achieve complete resolution of your symptoms, you may need to talk to your doctor or reflux specialist about reflux surgeries. Here at the Tampa Bay Reflux Center, we offer surgeries like the Lap Nissen Fundoplication, TIF/Esophyx, and minimally-invasive LINX Surgery. For more information, contact our team of reflux specialists!