Medicines for stomach pain, such as sodium bicarbonate, omeprazole or cimetidine, help reduce pain and the burning sensation, as they act by inhibiting the production of acid, or neutralizing the acidity in the stomach, in addition to increasing the speed stomach emptying.
Stomach pain is generally caused by excess acidity in gastric contents, excess gas, gastritis, stomach ulcers, gastroesophageal reflux or by ingestion of contaminated food, which in addition to pain, can also cause vomiting and diarrhea. See the main causes of stomach pain.
Treatment of stomach pain with medication should be guided by a gastroenterologist, according to its cause. Furthermore, these medications can cause side effects such as increased blood pressure, kidney problems, headaches, or even cardiac arrhythmia.
Pharmacy remedies for stomach pain
The main remedies for stomach pain that may be recommended by your doctor are:
1. Baking soda
Sodium bicarbonate is an antacid that quickly neutralizes stomach acid, temporarily relieving stomach pain, heartburn or a burning sensation in the stomach caused by poor digestion, gastritis or gastroesophageal reflux, for example.
How to drink: This antacid should be used by diluting half a teaspoon in a glass of water and should not exceed 3 teaspoons per day, and can be used for a maximum of 2 weeks, as excessive use can cause rebound acidity, which is when the stomach increases the production of acid by noticing that the acidity has decreased and thus the pain and discomfort in the stomach may worsen. Understand what the rebound effect is.
Sodium bicarbonate should not be used by children under 2 years of age, pregnant women, or by people with alkalosis, vomiting or intestinal obstruction.
2. Aluminum hydroxide
Aluminum hydroxide is another fast-acting antacid that helps relieve stomach pain and symptoms related to poor digestion, gastritis or stomach ulcers, such as a feeling of full stomach, heartburn, burning or excess gas or belching.
This antacid can be found in the form of tablets or oral suspension, under the trade name Pepsamar or in its generic form. Furthermore, magnesium hydroxide can also be found associated with other antacids such as magnesium hydroxide and calcium carbonate, under the names Estomazil or Mylanta Plus, for example.
Aluminum hydroxide alone or in combination with other substances should be taken for a short period of time, for a maximum of 2 weeks, and can cause side effects such as diarrhea, constipation, nausea, vomiting, increased blood pressure or problems with kidneys.
How to drink: The normally recommended dose for adults is 10 mL of aluminum hydroxide suspension, or as directed by your doctor. See how to take aluminum hydroxide correctly.
Aluminum hydroxide should not be used by children under 12 years of age, pregnant or breastfeeding women or by people with severe kidney failure, intestinal obstruction, appendicitis, bleeding in the stomach or intestine, hemorrhoids or hypochlorhydria, for example.
3. Milk of magnesia
Milk of magnesia is an antacid that contains magnesium hydroxide in its composition, which helps reduce stomach acidity and relieve stomach pain, heartburn and the burning sensation caused by poor digestion.
This remedy can be found in the form of an oral suspension, with the trade names Phillips Milk of Magnesia, Eno Milk of Magnesia or Magmax Milk of Magnesia, for example.
How to drink: the normally recommended dose for adults or children over 12 years of age is 1 teaspoon (5 mL) to 1 tablespoon (15 mL), up to 3 times a day, or as prescribed by a doctor. Learn how to use milk of magnesia.
Milk of magnesia should not be used by children under 2 years of age, pregnant or breastfeeding women, or by people with kidney disease or who are allergic to magnesium hydroxide or any other component of the formula.
4. Simeticona
Simethicone is a medicine indicated to help relieve stomach pain caused by excess gas, as it acts by breaking the bubbles that retain gases, facilitating their elimination, relieving the feeling of a bloated stomach, discomfort or pressure caused by excess gas in the stomach. stomach or also in the intestine.
This medicine can be found in the form of tablets, drops or gelatin capsules, administered orally, in its generic form under the name “simethicone” or under the trade names Luftal, Flatex, Flagass or Gastroflat, for example.
How to drink: in the form of 40 mg tablets, the normally recommended dose for adults is 1 40 mg tablet, orally up to 3 times a day, after meals, as per medical advice. See how to take simethicone.
Simethicone should not be used in case of allergy to the components of the formula and in cases of intestinal obstruction or perforation. Furthermore, during pregnancy or breastfeeding, simethicone should only be used if recommended by a doctor.
5. Omeprazole
Omeprazole is a medicine that inhibits the production of acid in the stomach, which helps reduce stomach pain, burning sensations or excessive belching caused by gastritis, gastric ulcers, gastroesophageal reflux or reflux esophagitis, for example.
This medicine can be found in the form of capsules with the names Neprazol, Novoprazole or Gastrium, for example, or as a generic under the name “omeprazole”, and must be used with medical advice, as the doses and treatment time vary according to with the stomach problem being treated.
How to drink: omeprazole should be taken in the morning, before a meal, and for the treatment of stomach ulcers, the normally recommended dose for adults is 20 mg, once a day, or as per medical advice. Learn how to take omeprazole correctly.
Omeprazole should not be used by children under 1 year of age, pregnant or breastfeeding women, or by people with serious liver problems or who are allergic to the components present in the capsules.
In addition to omeprazole, other acid production inhibitors that the doctor may recommend are lansoprazole, esomeprazole, or pantoprazole, for example.
6. Cimetidine
Cimetidine is a medicine that helps reduce stomach pain caused by ulcers in the stomach or duodenum, peptic esophagitis, Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, or heartburn.
This medicine works by inhibiting the production of acid in the stomach, by binding to regions in the cells of the stomach wall, preventing the action of histamine, which, when activated, increases the production of acids.
Cimetidine can be found in tablet form and the doses vary according to the condition being treated, and must be indicated by the doctor.
How to drink: In the case of stomach ulcers, the normally recommended doses for adults are 800 mg, in a single dose, at night, before going to bed, or 1 tablet of 400 mg, twice a day, at breakfast and at bedtime, as per medical guidance. See how to take cimetidine.
Cimetidine should not be used by children under 1 year of age, pregnant or breastfeeding women, or by people who have asthma attacks, heart disease, malignant gastric ulcers or who are being treated with the drug dofetilide.
In addition to cimetidine, other medications that inhibit histamine production that may be recommended by your doctor are nizatidine or famotidine, for example.
7. Domperidone
Domperidone is a medicine that accelerates gastric emptying, by stimulating stomach and intestinal movements, and is indicated for stomach pain caused by conditions related to delayed gastric emptying, such as poor digestion or gastroesophageal reflux.
This medicine can be found in the form of tablets or oral suspension, under the names Motilium, Peridal, Domperix or Domped, for example, or as the generic “domperidone”.
Domperidone should only be used under medical advice, for periods of less than a week, as it can cause side effects such as headache, drowsiness, restlessness, depression, anxiety, diarrhea, breast enlargement or sensitivity, milk production, absence of menstruation , or muscle weakness.
How to drink: The normally recommended doses for adults and adolescents over 12 years of age and weighing more than 35 kg are 1 tablet of 10 mg of domperidone, 3 times a day, according to medical advice. Find out how to use domperidone.
Domperidone should not be used by babies or children under 12 years of age, or by people who have any type of gastrointestinal hemorrhage, bleeding, obstruction or perforation. This medicine should also be avoided during pregnancy, and use during lactation should only be done if recommended by your doctor.
Other medications that help speed up stomach emptying that may be recommended by your doctor are metoclopramide and cisapride, for example.
8. Sucralfate
Sucralfate is a gastric protector indicated for stomach pain and burning sensations in cases of chronic gastritis or ulcers in the stomach or duodenum, for example, as it acts to form mucus that serves as a protective barrier for the stomach, preventing acid from causing damage. in the stomach wall.
This medicine should only be used under medical advice, as it can cause side effects such as darkening of the stool, dizziness, headache, dry mouth, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain after eating, constipation, excess gas, formation of spots on the skin or psychotic disorders.
Sucralfate can be found in the form of vials or chewable tablets, called Sucrafilm, and is contraindicated for pregnant women, nursing mothers, children or people who are allergic to the components of the formula.
How to drink: sucralfate should be taken on an empty stomach, at least 1 hour before eating, and doses vary according to the condition being treated and should be advised by your doctor.
In addition to sucralfate, another gastric protector that may be recommended by your doctor is bismuth salts.
9. Clarithromycin
Clarithromycin associated with amoxicillin or metronidazole, and a proton pump blocker, such as omeprazole or esomeprazole, for example, is an antibiotic that may be recommended by the doctor in cases of stomach ulcers or gastritis, caused by an infection with bacteria. Helicobacter pylori.
These antibiotics should only be used under medical advice, after carrying out diagnostic tests, such as the urease test, to detect the bacteria in the stomach. Find out how the urease test is performed.
How to drink: clarithromycin, associated with amixicillin and omeprazole, must be taken orally, and the recommended doses for adults are 1 capsule of omeprazole, 2 capsules of amoxicillin and 1 tablet of clarithromycin, in the morning and at night, before meals, for 1 week of treatment or as medically indicated.
Antibiotics can cause side effects such as diarrhea, vomiting, poor digestion, nausea, abdominal pain, skin reactions, headache, taste changes and insomnia, and are only sold with a prescription.
Home remedies for stomach pain
Home remedies for stomach pain, such as espinheira-santa, mastic, lettuce, dandelion or mugwort tea, for example, can help reduce acidity or inflammation in the stomach, and can be used to complement the treatment indicated by the doctor.
These home remedies are a good option to help control pain or a burning sensation in the stomach, and can be taken 3 to 4 times a day, preferably on an empty stomach, and between meals. See how to prepare teas for stomach pain.
In addition, you should reduce stress, eat a diet low in sweets, fats and fried foods, avoid drinking soft drinks and alcoholic beverages and avoid smoking.
