The fastest way to get rid of heartburn is to take a liquid antacid, which neutralizes stomach acid within minutes. If you don’t have one on hand, a half teaspoon of baking soda dissolved in cold water works as an emergency substitute. Beyond that, several other strategies can bring relief in under an hour, depending on what you have available.
Antacids Work Within Minutes
Over-the-counter antacids are the quickest option. They contain minerals that directly bind to acid in your stomach, raising the pH within minutes of swallowing. Liquid antacids work faster and have more neutralizing power than chewable tablets, so if you’re choosing between the two, reach for the liquid.
Most antacids combine aluminum hydroxide and magnesium hydroxide. The magnesium component can cause loose stools, while the aluminum side tends toward constipation. Combining them in one product is meant to balance those effects. For occasional use this rarely matters, but if you find yourself taking antacids multiple times a week, that pattern is worth paying attention to.
The tradeoff with antacids is that their relief doesn’t last long, typically one to three hours. They’re best for putting out the fire right now, not for preventing the next episode.
Baking Soda: The Kitchen Remedy
Plain baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) is essentially a DIY antacid. According to Mayo Clinic dosing guidelines, the standard amount is one half teaspoon dissolved in a glass of cold water, taken no more than every two hours. The maximum for a full day is five teaspoons.
It works quickly because sodium bicarbonate reacts directly with hydrochloric acid in your stomach. The downside is the sodium content. A single half teaspoon of baking soda contains roughly 600 milligrams of sodium, which is a significant chunk of your daily limit. This makes it a poor choice if you’re watching your blood pressure or salt intake, and it’s not something to rely on regularly.
H2 Blockers: Relief in About an Hour
If antacids aren’t available, an H2 blocker like famotidine (sold as Pepcid) is the next fastest option. It starts working within about one hour and its effects last around 12 hours, far longer than any antacid. Taking it 15 to 60 minutes before eating can also prevent heartburn from starting in the first place.
Proton pump inhibitors like omeprazole (Prilosec) are not a fast fix. They can take one to four days to reach full effect. Some people notice partial improvement within 24 hours, but if you need relief right now, omeprazole won’t deliver it.
Chewing Gum After a Meal
This one sounds almost too simple, but chewing gum stimulates saliva production, and saliva is mildly alkaline. Research from the University of Dundee found that chewing gum roughly doubled saliva output and cut the time it took to clear acid from the esophagus from about seven minutes down to just over two minutes. That’s a meaningful difference when you’re uncomfortable.
Sugar-free gum is the better choice here since sugar can contribute to other problems. Chew for 20 to 30 minutes after eating. It won’t work as dramatically as an antacid, but it’s free, has no side effects, and you can do it anywhere.
Change Your Position
Gravity matters more than most people realize. If heartburn hits while you’re lying down or lounging on the couch, sit upright or stand up. This alone can reduce the amount of acid washing back into your esophagus.
If it’s bedtime, sleep on your left side. The stomach curves in a way that keeps acid pooled away from the opening to your esophagus when you’re on the left. Lying on your right side does the opposite, making reflux worse. Elevating the head of your bed also helps. A wedge pillow angled at 30 to 45 degrees, raising your head six to twelve inches, is more effective than stacking regular pillows (which tend to bend you at the waist and can actually increase abdominal pressure).
What to Avoid While It’s Happening
Some common instincts make heartburn worse. Lying flat, bending over, eating more food, or drinking carbonated beverages can all push acid upward. Tight clothing around your waist increases pressure on the stomach. If you’re wearing a snug belt or waistband, loosening it can provide surprisingly quick improvement.
Avoid eating anything acidic, spicy, or fatty while you’re still feeling the burn. Coffee and alcohol both relax the muscular valve between your stomach and esophagus, which is exactly the opposite of what you want. Water at room temperature is fine and can help wash acid back down, but drinking large volumes at once may stretch the stomach and trigger more reflux.
When Heartburn Might Be Something Else
Heartburn and heart attacks can feel remarkably similar. Even experienced doctors sometimes can’t tell the difference based on symptoms alone. The textbook heart attack involves sudden crushing chest pain and difficulty breathing, but many heart attacks don’t follow the textbook.
Call emergency services if your chest pain or pressure spreads to your neck, jaw, back, or arms. The same applies if you experience shortness of breath, cold sweats, sudden dizziness, or unusual fatigue alongside the chest discomfort. Women are more likely than men to have these less obvious symptoms, like nausea, jaw pain, or back pain, without the classic crushing chest sensation. If there’s any doubt, treat it as a cardiac event. A false alarm at the emergency room is always better than the alternative.
Preventing the Next Episode
If you’re searching for fast relief, you’ve probably had heartburn before. A few adjustments can reduce how often it happens. Eating smaller meals puts less pressure on the valve at the top of your stomach. Finishing dinner at least two to three hours before lying down gives your stomach time to empty. Identifying your personal triggers (common ones include tomato-based foods, chocolate, mint, fried foods, and alcohol) lets you make targeted changes rather than overhauling your entire diet.
If heartburn is showing up more than twice a week despite these changes, that pattern suggests gastroesophageal reflux disease rather than occasional heartburn. The treatment approach shifts from reactive relief to daily acid suppression, and the longer-term effects of frequent acid exposure on your esophagus are worth evaluating.