Written by Sindhuja Prabhu
Our stomach produces acids that aid digestion. When this acid production exceeds the requirement of your body, it results in heartburn, stomach upsets, indigestion, and sometimes even ulcers that can be very painful. An antacid is a medication prescribed by doctors to help with the excess production of stomach acids. While you can always have a spoonful of antacid liquid, there are more convenient antacid chewable tablets too.
Studies show that between 30 and 80 percent of pregnant women suffer from GERD. Although some pregnant women experience acidity as early as the first trimester, the vast majority report feeling its effects in the third trimester. Any pregnant woman experiencing acidity should immediately begin looking into safe methods of acidity management. Continue reading to learn whether it’s safe to take chewable antacids while pregnant.
In This Article
Antacid chewable tablets, as the name suggests, are tablets that you can chew to help get some relief from stomach acids related issues like heartburn. You can get them over the counter without a prescription.
They look like any other tablet, but you can chew them instead of swallowing them. You can pop them into your mouth anytime you feel heartburn and chew on them slowly.
You can chew an antacid tablet if you are suffering from the following:
Antacid tablets are available across the counter and are usually used for stomach upsets and heartburns. However, if you have other pre-existing medical conditions like kidney stones or a calcium-restricted diet, you need to consult a doctor before you can pop one of these tablets into your mouth.
Pregnant women and nursing mothers experience a lot of heartburn and digestion issues. No matter how tempting these tablets are, it is advisable to consult your doctor first and consume the tablet only after approval.
When you go to the pharmacy to buy these hewable tablets, you need to consider the following aspects:
Antacid tablets are available across the counter and can benefit you in the following ways:
Like any other drug, antacid chewable tablets have their own set of benefits and side effects too. If you continue to take them for more than 2 weeks at a stretch or consume more than the recommended dosage in a day, you are bound to suffer the side effects.
Some of the common side effects you may suffer from are:
If you were to misuse the antacids chewable tablets by consuming them when not needed, it might lead to:
Overdose of calcium as these tablets have calcium in them. As a result of too much calcium in your blood, you may experience
Antacid tablets need to be taken to counter the excess acid production in the stomach. If you over-consume antacids, it can lead to an imbalance where the stomach acids become insufficient. This can result in various issues.
Here are some tips for the safe usage of antacid chewable tablets:
No matter how severe your heartburn is, do not chew more than one tablet at a time, and always give sufficient gaps before you chew the next tablet. If the symptoms are very severe, it is safer to consult a doctor than chew many tablets at a time.
Check the dosage instructions. If you are taking the maximum dosage instructed/prescribed by your doctor, do not exceed 2 weeks. If your symptoms persist despite chewing antacid tablets for 2 weeks, you need to check with your doctor. As per the manufacturer’s instructions, do not chew more than 8 tablets in a day.
Never chew antacid tablets if you are pregnant or nursing. Ask your doctor for medications that are safe for you. Your doctor will prescribe medication and also recommend home remedies, to reduce your dependency on the tablet.
Store at the recommended temperature. Storing it in too much heat will melt the tablet, compromising some important properties.
Sindhuja, a mother of two, is an obsessive mom with a keen interest in psychology, especially child psychology. Her quest for knowledge and way with words led her to become a passionate content writer. She transformed her love for writing into a full-fledged career which incidentally also turned up being the perfect stress buster for the last 5 years.Read more.
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