Hi,
Thanks for writing in.
I am a medical specialist with an additional degree in cardiology.
I read your question and the background with diligence.
If a person knows what causes their gastritis, the simplest approach is to avoid the cause.
•Aspirin and alcohol are two widely used substances that cause gastritis.
•If the patient develops an upset stomach and nausea after drinking alcohol or using aspirin, then avoid these substances. If you have to take alcohol take after OTC available antacids and other drugs listed below.

Sometimes a person cannot avoid certain substances that cause gastritis.
•The health care practitioner may have a good reason to recommend aspirin, iron, potassium, or some other medication that causes gastritis.
•If the patient develops minor gastritis symptoms, it may be best to continue the recommended medication and treat the gastritis symptoms.
•Consult a health care practitioner before stopping any medication.

In the case of aspirin, coated aspirin may not cause the same symptoms because:
•Coated aspirin does not dissolve in the stomach.
•Check the contents of any other over-the-counter medication the patient is taking because more than 300 medications contain aspirin in some form.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, Nuprin) also cause gastritis.
•The health care practitioner may recommend that these medications be taken with food or with antacids.
•Doing this may lessen the chance of developing gastritis symptoms.

The OTC treatments that are currently available to consumers are:

•Antacids

•H2 Blockers

•Bismuth

•Subsalicylate

•Prilosec OTC Formulation

Antacids, which neutralize the acid in your stomach, were once the only OTC option for reflux sufferers. Because of that, nearly everyone has tried an antacid at one point in time. The following is a comprehensive list of the antacids that you can count on to provide inexpensive, convenient, over-the-counter relief for your Gastritis:

•Gaviscon

•Mylanta

• Milk of Magnesia (Ex-Lax, Phillips Chewable Tablets)

• Maalox Regular Strength Antacid


•Pepcid Complete Chewable Tablets

•Tums Regular Antacid

•Alka-Seltzer Heartburn Relief

•Rolaids

•Titralac

These remedies can be purchased at any drug store, pharmacy or retail outlet. You can even get them at most gas stations and convenient marts if you’re on the road or in a rush. They’ve been proven to be convenient and cost-effective in relationship to a prescription alternative.

However, many of them have to be taken up to 3-4 times a day (or more) in order to completely alleviate symptoms. An H2 Blocker doesn’t work as fast as an antacid but it will generally tend to be longer acting. They work by reducing the amount of acid that is produced by your stomach. Some examples are:
•Tagamet HB 200

•Pepcid AC

• Zantac 75
There are some products, like Pepcid Complete, that combine both an H2 Blocker and an antacid. Those products are both faster acting AND longer lasting than an antacid or an H2 Blocker alone. Bismuth subsalicylate is the generic name for the active ingredient found in a class of several products with which you may already be familiar. It can be found in:
• Kaopectate

• Maalox Maximum Strength Total Stomach Relief

• Pepto-Bismol

• Bismatrol

These medications help to balance out the way in which fluid moves through your bowels. They are designed to "coat" the lining of the stomach, which prevents the destruction caused by acid.

Everyone with gastritis is familiar with the Prilosec OTC Formulation . Prilosec is a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) that, until recently, was only available by prescription. It is, by far, the strongest product available to provide over-the-counter relief for your acid reflux.

It’s a once-a-day product that is designed to provide 24-hour relief from GERD symptoms but it should only be used in patients that suffer from acid reflux more than twice each week. With the countless medications that exist, you just might be able to find over-the-counter relief for your gastritis.

Remember that, even though these medications don’t require a prescription, they should still only be used according their package labeling and extended use is not advised. If your symptoms persist more than two weeks, you need to consult your physician.


Acetaminophen (Liquiprin, Tylenol, Panadol) is not known to cause gastritis.
•Talk with a health care practitioner before switching to acetaminophen.
•He or she may have recommended aspirin or an NSAID for a specific purpose.

Stronger medications that protect the stomach's lining or lessen acid production in the stomach are available by prescription. Talk to a health care practitioner if the nonprescription medications do not work.

WHEN TO SEE HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL FOR GASTRITIS

See your health care practitioner if your symptoms are new, long-lasting, or worsen despite self-care.

Seek immediate medical attention if you have any of the following symptoms.
•Vomiting that does not allow the affected person to take food, fluids, and medications
•Fever with abdominal pain
•Fainting or feeling faint
•Rapid heartbeat
•Unexplained sweating
•Pallor
•Repeated vomiting of XXXXXXX or yellow material
•Vomiting any amount of blood
•Shortness of breath
•Chest pain

If you have follow up query, I will be more than happy to answer.
With Best Wishes.

Dr Anil Grover,
Cardiologist
M.B.;B.S, M.D. (Internal Medicine) D.M.(Cardiology)
http://www/ WWW.WWWW.WW

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