Omeprazole is not the only drug that treats heartburn, ulcers, GERD, and Zollinger-Ellison syndrome.
Potential Alternatives for Omeprazole
Other proton pump inhibitors
Other proton pump inhibitors include esomeprazole (Nexium), pantoprazole (Protonix), and lansoprazole (Prevacid).
Other antacids and non-proton pump inhibitor medicines
Others antacids and non-proton pump inhibitor drugs are Maalox, Mylanta, and Tums; ranitidine (Zantac), famotidine (Pepcid), and cimetidine (Tagamet) are H2 (histamine) receptor antagonists.
Non-medical alternatives
Non-medical alternatives that you can talk to your doctor about include:
- Acupuncture
- Melatonin
- Hypnotherapy (clinical hypnosis)
- Herbal remedies, such as chamomile, ginger root, marshmallow root, and slippery elm
- Baking soda
- Chewing gum
- Aloe juice
- Almonds
- Avoiding certain foods that you notice may worsen GERD
However, scientific research on how effective these alternatives are is scarce.
Lifestyle changes
Lifestyle changes can help, too. These changes may include:
- Quitting smoking
- Exercising regularly
- Sleeping on the left side
- Elevating the head and upper body while in bed
- Wearing loose-fitting clothing
- Eating smaller meals more often
- Reducing alcohol intake
- Avoid eating late at night before bed
Disclaimer: this article does not constitute or replace medical advice. If you have an emergency or a serious medical question, please contact a medical professional or call 911 immediately. To see our full medical disclaimer, visit our Terms of Use page.
