Gaviscon tablets are chewable, not swallowed whole. You chew them thoroughly, then follow with half a glass of water for best results. The typical dose is 2 to 4 tablets up to four times a day, taken after meals and at bedtime.
How to Take Them Properly
The most important thing to know is that Gaviscon tablets must be chewed before you swallow them. They are not like a regular pill you wash down with water. Chewing breaks the tablet apart and activates the ingredients so they can mix with your stomach contents and do their job. If you swallow them whole, they won’t work as effectively.
After chewing, drink about half a glass of water or another liquid. This helps wash the active ingredients down into your stomach where they need to be. The tablets have a chalky, mildly minty texture, and the water also helps clear the residue from your mouth and throat.
Dosage and Frequency
For Gaviscon Extra Strength tablets, the standard adult dose is 2 to 4 tablets per dose, taken up to four times a day. That means your maximum is 16 tablets in a 24-hour period. Start with 2 tablets and see if that provides enough relief before moving to 3 or 4.
Each dose should be taken after meals and, if needed, at bedtime. This schedule lines up with when acid reflux tends to be worst: your stomach produces the most acid during and after eating, and lying down at night lets that acid travel upward more easily.
Why Timing After Meals Matters
Gaviscon works differently from a standard antacid. While it does contain antacid ingredients, its key feature is an alginate compound that reacts with your stomach acid to form a gel-like barrier, sometimes called a “raft.” This raft floats on top of your stomach contents and acts as a physical lid, preventing acid from splashing up into your esophagus.
For this raft to form properly, it needs stomach acid to react with. After a meal, your stomach is actively producing acid and is full of food, which is exactly the right environment. Taking Gaviscon on a completely empty stomach, when acid levels are low, means the raft may not form as effectively. The raft also provides longer-lasting relief than antacids alone, because it maintains a higher pH inside the gel layer for an extended period rather than just briefly neutralizing the acid in your stomach.
Bedtime Doses
If you experience nighttime heartburn, a dose at bedtime can be especially helpful. When you lie flat, gravity no longer keeps stomach acid where it belongs, and reflux episodes become more likely. The floating raft that Gaviscon creates sits right at the junction between your stomach and esophagus, which is precisely where acid escapes. Taking your dose just before lying down gives the barrier time to form while you’re still upright, so it’s in place by the time you’re horizontal.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Gaviscon is one of the more commonly recommended options for heartburn during pregnancy, which affects a large percentage of pregnant women, especially in the third trimester. According to NHS guidance, you can take Gaviscon while pregnant as long as you follow the standard dosage instructions. It’s also considered safe while breastfeeding and should not cause side effects in your baby. That said, it’s worth mentioning to your midwife or doctor that you’re using it, particularly if you find yourself needing it frequently.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Swallowing tablets whole. This is the most common error. The tablets must be chewed to release the active ingredients properly.
- Skipping the water. Half a glass of water after chewing helps the ingredients reach your stomach and form the protective barrier.
- Taking them too far before a meal. If you take Gaviscon 30 or 60 minutes before eating, much of the protective effect may be gone by the time your stomach is full of food and acid. After meals is the recommended timing.
- Using them alongside other medications without spacing. Gaviscon can interfere with how your body absorbs other medicines. If you take prescription medications, leave at least two hours between them and your Gaviscon dose to avoid any interaction.
What the Tablets Won’t Do
Gaviscon provides temporary relief from heartburn, acid reflux, and indigestion. It does not treat the underlying cause of chronic reflux. If you find yourself reaching for Gaviscon daily for more than two weeks, that’s a signal your symptoms need a closer look. Persistent reflux can sometimes indicate conditions that benefit from different treatments, and prolonged use of any antacid product without guidance isn’t ideal.
Gaviscon also won’t help with stomach pain that isn’t related to acid. If your discomfort doesn’t improve within about 15 to 20 minutes of taking a dose, the problem may not be acid-related.