JmJm( Jim) used to be a very prolific poster on Medhelp and he was also a very smart guy who put a lot of focus on riba absorption. I copied one of his many posts on the subject below. Basically it says, don't take Tums, Rolaids, Gaviscon, or Mylanta type antacids with Riba because they will block absorption but Protein Pump inhibitors and H2 blockers are OK.
There is even a H2 blocker that was shown to help work against the virus and II remember reading about it in Dr. Melissa Palmer's book. I can't remember which one it is right now but I will think on it. I couldn't use it for Joe because it can lower platelets and that was not OK for him. Maybe someone that has her book can comment. I will probably remember which one it is here in a minute.
Here is Jim's post:
I think Tagament falls into the H-2 blocker category of drugs and therefore it is OK to take with riba. Same with PPI's like Nexium, which is probably what your doctor meant when he said he'd prescribe something stronger. Drugs that reduce riba absorption are antacids like Tums, Maalox, Gaviscon, etc. I took two Nexium a day for most of treatment. When I did take an antacid like Tums, I tried to space it at least two hours away from a riba dose, preferably three hours.
Interactions
Gastric acid inhibitors may interact with other medicines. When an interaction occurs, the effects of one or both of the drugs may change or the risk of side effects may be increased. Anyone who takes gastric acid inhibitors should give their physician a list of all the other medicines that he or she is taking.
Of the drugs in this class, cimetidine has the highest number of drug interactions, and specialized reference works should be consulted for guidance about this medication.
The drugs that may interact with H2-receptor blockers include:
•itraconazole (Sporanox)
•ketoconazole (Nizoral)
•warfarin (Coumadin)
•dofetilide (Tikosyn)
•drugs given to open the airway (bronchodilators), including aminophylline, theophylline (Theo-Dur and other brands), and oxtriphylline (Choledyl and other brands)
Drugs that may interact with proton pump inhibitors include:
•itraconazole (Sporanox)
•ketoconazole (Nizoral)
•phenytoin (Dilantin) and other anticonvulsant drugs
•cilostazol (Pletal)
•voriconazole (Vfend)
The preceding lists do not include every drug that may interact with gastric acid inhibitors. Patients should be careful to consult a physician or pharmacist before combining gastric acid inhibitors with any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicine.
http://www.answers.com/topic/gastric-acid-inhibitors
Prilosec can cause fatal liver rot (necrosis), fatal pancreatitis, headache, back pain, hair loss, toxic epidermal necrolysis (a condition where your skin becomes red and scaly, then finally, painfully oozes and peels off), or it can stop the production of blood cells. Like Tagamet, Prilosec can severely distort or compromise the detoxification of other drugs.
http://ezinearticles.com/?Dangers-of-Drugs-Prescribed-For-Acid-Reflux&id=1787350
No, they don't affect riba absorption. It is OK to take them together.