For those ladies who have been through it in the past 2 years or so only, please - information changes way too rapidly to bother with anything past that...
What is safe to take for BAD heartburn while pregnant? My doctor's blanket okay is Maloxx and Tums - but they're not helping enough. I've seen some postings on other sites that said their doctors okayed previcid and zantac - what about pepcid complete?
I'm eating Tums like mad and they're not working. Maloxx didn't do the job like it was supposed to my last pregnancy when the heartburn wasn't anything near this level.
Edit - for those suggesting Pepcid - there are two types: AC and Complete. Do you know which you're taking/took?
Before anything, of course, I'll call my doc - just wondering what you ladies have taken.
Thanks mamas! I've picked up some Pepcid Complete. We'll see how it does. I'm only 12 weeks on Thursday, so I think I've got a long road ahead of me! I'll be sure to try out the other answers, as well until I find something that works!
The main difference between in the AC and the complete is that the complete is like taking the AC with a tums. So really you can take either. In my opionion, just get the generic AC because it is much cheaper, then take a tums with it if you need a some releif while waiting for the pepcid to kick in.
Target brand of Zantac is very inexpensive to be on. I took 150 mg twice daily from 5 month until 2 weeks after my son was born.
My doctor has always said Zantac - 75 or 150 mg are fine. It's category B and that's what they give to babies with reflux so it is widely accepted.
Eating an alkaline diet is the best during these times.
I literally carried a full size bottle of Rolaids in my purse for my entire pregnancy! So, I feel your pain. Keep an eye on what you are eating or drinking when it's at its worst, diet can play a big role in heartburn. Also, make sure you don't recline just after eating. Good luck to you!
This is not a medication, but I read somewhere that apples help with heartburn, and when I was pregnant and had bad heartburn I would eat an apple and it always did the trick.
Good luck-heartburn is the worst!
Check the labels, but I'm pretty sure that Pecid Complete is the active ingredient in Pepcid AC PLUS the active ingresient in Tums.
Personally I ended up on prescription Prevacid...
I had wicked bad heartburn when I was pregnant! I ate tums like there was no tomorrow. My doctor told me to take Pepcid and it did help. That was just last year :) Good luck!
Apples do work wonders for the heartburn. Milk feels like it helps but actually aids in the production of more gastric acids. On the bright side both of my children were born with full heads of hair!
Do a search to find out what foods cause heartburn during pregnancy. Maybe there are foods you can avoid for a while or eat along with a certain other food.
Nothing helped my heartburn ----NOTHING and I tried all meds-- except for MILK. Yup. I almost died of being grossed out because I hate milk, but I was in so much pain, I tried it. When I had heartburn, I drank milk before bed (I only got it lying down), and voila. It worked. I saw it by googling around. Also, be sure not to eat acidic vegetably stuff before lying down. You need a nice coating. I got fat on alfredo sauce, but at least I didn't have heartburn anymore! Try milk.
I had heartburn terribly with my son (he's almost 7 months now). I took Prevacid in the evening, Zantac in the morning and Tums if I needed it throughout the day, all with my doctors approval. They all work differently, and this was the only combination that worked for me. As far as Pepcid AC vs Complete, look at the ingredients and see what the difference is. You'll want to make sure ALL the drugs are safe to take while pregnant. I tried not to take anything that wasn't a preg. category A or B, and only took what my OB told me was OK. Good luck, Mama! I never knew how miserable heartburn could be until my pregnancy.
I'm pregnant with my second right now and the heartburn has been BAD. My doctor has recommended pepsid over the counter and it has worked miracles. Just be sure to check on the dose - they usually want you to start low and work your way up if necessary. I guess over time all of the remedies can (but not necessarily will) become less effective.
milk. my baby is about to turn two and i never ever had heart burn till her. drink lots of milk. its like the milk calms the acid down. also try all natural products and home remeidies if these tums and other things arent working.
I'm taking generic Pepcid AC. However, with my first pregnancy it was so bad my doctor prescribed Nexium and Zantac. But I think that is because Pepcid wasn't over the counter 3 years ago like it is now. But the generic has the same ingredients as the name brand.
My doctor said Zegerid OTC was okay to take while pregnant and what he thought worked the best for bad heartburn.
I took Zantac, maximum strength, available over the counter. I spoke with my OB and my friend who is a pharmacist, both said its safe.
I know how you feel, Tums didn't help me at all.
Call your pharmacy, they can answer this question for you, but there are better options out there. Good luck!
I know you might be looking for medicine but I use a high alkaline (ph level) water for my husband when he has an asthma flair up. Well one day I saw a man with some in the grocery store and he said it was for his pregnant wife. It was the only thing that helps her heartburn. So its worth trying for $2.00 a bottle. The worst that could happen is that it doesn't work but at least you drank a bottle of water and thats good for you. Get one that has a ph of about 8 or 9. Look for it in a health food store or at your local grocery store on the top shelf where the special waters are. It will say it on the bottle what ph it is.
I have a 4 month old - she is my third baby and she gave was the only one to give me heartburn... and it was extremely rough. I actually went to the ER on Easter Sunday because it got so bad.
That said, it started out just feeling like pain radiating around my ribs. It got progressively worse - between about 31 weeks to about 36 weeks.
In the beginning my OB's office recommended the TUMS, and Maalox - neither worked at all. I also tried Zantac and it didn't work at all.
Finally, I ended up in the ER and they have me Rx protonix, which worked wonders. I had lost several pounds b/c I had to severely limit the types of foods I could eat. The baby was growing fine though, I was the one suffering! :)
I talked to a GI specialist who is a family friend about it and he said this was the same medication as over the counter Prevacid. Both of these medications are safe during pregnancy. In fact, they are class B drugs while Zantac is class C.
Anyway, I would talk to your doc about taking the Prevacid or get an Rx for the protonix. I honestly didn't know how painful heartburn could be until I experienced it myself. I feel for you. Good luck!
I feel your pain. I had heartburn with my first but man this time around it has been brutal. I too am taking Tums like they are candy so I am interested as well in what else I can try. I agree with watching what you eat and when but if you are like me it doesn't matter. I get heartburn from plain toast just as bad as if I had eaten a jar of salsa. It is bad all day and all night and still have 3 months to go. I will be asking about the Zantac or Pepcid as well. Hope you find some relief.
Well I know I'm over your two year request, but my doctor had me take Zantac 150 when I had horrible heartburn with my youngest.
Try pickle juice. My niece is currently pregnant and pickle juice has worked wonders for her. The vinegar acts as a stomach acid buffer.
Also, sleep propped up on pillows. That will help.
Rolaids and Tums did nothing for me. Shaklee's Chewable Cal-Mag was used by many people I know and they said it worked great. Wish I had known about it!
