Several options work well for heartburn, ranging from over-the-counter antacids that neutralize stomach acid within minutes to simple changes in how and what you eat. The best choice depends on how often you get heartburn and how severe it is. For occasional flare-ups, a fast-acting antacid or a few habit adjustments may be all you need. For persistent symptoms, stronger acid-suppressing medications offer longer relief.
Antacids for Quick Relief
Antacids are the fastest fix. They contain ingredients like calcium carbonate, magnesium hydroxide, or aluminum hydroxide that directly neutralize the acid already sitting in your stomach. Relief typically comes within minutes, especially with liquid formulations, which work faster than chewable tablets. The trade-off is that the effect only lasts a few hours, so antacids are best for occasional heartburn rather than daily symptoms.
Common brands include Tums (calcium carbonate), Maalox, and Mylanta. They’re inexpensive, widely available, and safe for most people when used as directed. If you’re pregnant, calcium carbonate antacids like Tums are considered a safe first-line option.
H2 Blockers and Proton Pump Inhibitors
If antacids aren’t cutting it, the next step up is an H2 blocker like famotidine (Pepcid). H2 blockers don’t neutralize existing acid. Instead, they reduce how much acid your stomach produces. They kick in within about 30 minutes and suppress acid for 4 to 8 hours, making them useful for predictable heartburn (like after dinner) or for overnight relief.
Proton pump inhibitors, or PPIs, are the strongest over-the-counter option. Brands like omeprazole (Prilosec) and esomeprazole (Nexium) block the final step of acid production, delivering more complete and longer-lasting suppression than H2 blockers. PPIs produce faster and more thorough heartburn relief than H2 blockers, but they take one to three days of daily use to reach full effect. They’re designed for frequent heartburn (two or more days a week) and are typically used in 14-day courses rather than on an as-needed basis.
Foods and Drinks to Avoid
What you eat plays a direct role. Certain foods relax the muscular valve at the top of your stomach, the lower esophageal sphincter, which normally keeps acid from flowing back into your esophagus. When that valve loosens, acid escapes upward and you feel the burn.
The common culprits include chocolate, coffee, alcohol, mint, garlic, and onions, all of which can relax that valve in higher doses. Fatty foods are a double problem: they increase stomach acid production and take longer to digest, giving acid more time and opportunity to escape. Spicy foods, citrus, and tomato-based sauces are also frequent triggers, though individual tolerance varies. Keeping a simple food diary for a week or two can help you pinpoint your personal triggers rather than eliminating everything at once.
Eating Habits That Help
How you eat matters as much as what you eat. Larger meals stretch the stomach and put more pressure on that valve. Eating smaller, more frequent meals reduces this pressure. Finishing your last meal at least two to three hours before lying down gives your stomach time to empty, which significantly cuts nighttime symptoms.
Eating slowly and chewing thoroughly also helps. Rushing through meals causes you to swallow more air, which increases stomach pressure and makes reflux more likely.
Sleep Position and Nighttime Heartburn
Gravity is your ally. When you lie flat, acid pools more easily at the top of your stomach and slips into your esophagus. Elevating the head of your bed by 6 to 8 inches, using a wedge pillow or blocks under the bedframe, keeps your esophagus above your stomach and lets gravity do its job. Propping yourself up with regular pillows is less effective because it bends you at the waist rather than creating a gradual incline.
Sleeping on your left side also helps. Your stomach naturally curves to the left, and this position keeps the junction between your stomach and esophagus above the level of stomach acid.
Baking Soda as a Home Remedy
Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) is a legitimate antacid that works the same way commercial products do: it neutralizes stomach acid on contact. The standard dose is half a teaspoon dissolved in a full glass of water, taken after meals, and you can repeat it every two hours if needed. The daily maximum is about five teaspoons.
The major caveat is sodium. Baking soda contains a large amount of it, which can cause your body to retain water. If you have high blood pressure or are on a sodium-restricted diet, this remedy can make those conditions worse. It’s fine as an occasional fix when you don’t have antacids on hand, but it’s not a good daily solution for anyone.
Ginger for Digestive Comfort
Ginger has a long reputation as a stomach soother, and there’s some clinical backing for it. It appears to work by increasing the speed at which your stomach empties, reducing the window for acid to reflux upward. It also reduces nausea through its effects on receptors in the gut.
Research suggests about 1,500 mg per day (divided into multiple doses) is an effective amount, though most of the strongest evidence comes from studies on nausea during pregnancy rather than heartburn specifically. One small trial found that 1,650 mg daily improved reflux-like symptoms in cancer patients. You can get ginger through capsules, fresh ginger tea, or grated ginger added to food. The evidence is promising but not as definitive as it is for standard medications, so think of ginger as a complement rather than a replacement.
Other Lifestyle Changes That Reduce Heartburn
Excess weight around the midsection increases pressure on the stomach and pushes acid upward. Even modest weight loss can noticeably reduce heartburn frequency. Tight clothing, especially belts and waistbands, creates the same kind of abdominal pressure and is worth loosening if you notice symptoms after meals.
Smoking weakens the lower esophageal sphincter over time, making reflux more likely. Alcohol does the same thing in the short term. Cutting back on either, or both, often produces a noticeable improvement within a few weeks.
Heartburn During Pregnancy
Heartburn is extremely common in pregnancy, driven by hormonal changes that relax the esophageal valve and by the growing uterus pressing on the stomach. Calcium carbonate antacids (Tums) are the recommended starting point. If those don’t provide enough relief, famotidine (Pepcid) is also considered safe during pregnancy when used as directed. If heartburn still persists after trying both, your provider may recommend a PPI. The stepwise approach, starting mild and escalating only if needed, is the standard guidance.
Signs That Heartburn Needs Medical Attention
Occasional heartburn is common and manageable on your own. But certain symptoms signal that acid may have caused damage or that something more serious is going on. These include difficulty swallowing or a feeling that food is getting stuck behind your breastbone, vomiting blood (which can look like dark coffee grounds or red clots), black or tarry stools, unexplained weight loss, and a chronic cough, hoarseness, or sensation of choking caused by acid reaching the airway. Any of these warrants a prompt conversation with your doctor.