Acid Reflux

Hello....
   I have been diagnosed with acid reflux .... the doctor prescribed Prevacid..... I have been taking it for 2 weeks.... It seems to have helped some, but, I still have excessive burping and some tightening of the chest between the breasts..... I  found a list of foods that are approved for this disease..... I don't eat much for fear of making it worse.....My question is how long should it take the Prevacid to take effect ?
And, can so much excessive burping make the chest area feel sore and uncomfortable? Any suggestions are appreciated,  Thanks so much, Becky

[Kevin Pho, MD]

Prevacid normally takes a couple of days to fully take effect.  It should be taken 1/2 hour prior to breakfast.

Other things that can cause your symptoms are an ulcer, gallbladder disease, or inflammation of the upper digestive tract.  If the symptoms continue you can consider an upper endoscopy, ultrasound or upper GI series to evaluate for these conditions.  

If the symptoms continue despite Prevacid, a 24-hr pH study can be considered to further evaluate GERD and determine if further treatment (i.e. surgery) should be considered.

You can discuss these options with your personal physician.

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Kevin, M.D.
Medical Weblog:
kevinmd_b