Gaviscon

Gaviscon can be taken by adults, including pregnant and breastfeeding women.

If your baby or child has problems with reflux or indigestion, talk to your doctor as soon as you can. Only treat them with Gaviscon if their doctor prescribes it. 

Important

Never give Gaviscon to children under 12 years old, unless their doctor prescribes it.

To make sure a particular medicine is safe for you, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have:

• had an allergic reaction to Gaviscon or any other medicines in the past
• been advised to eat a low calcium or low salt (low sodium) diet
• kidney or heart disease
• a rare inherited illness called phenylketonuria
• low levels of phosphate in your blood

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Usually, Gaviscon is safe to take during pregnancy and while breastfeeding. If you are pregnant, it is best to try to treat indigestion without taking a medicine. For example, it can help to:

• eat smaller meals more often
• avoid fatty or spicy foods
• raise the head of your bed a little

If this does not work, your doctor may recommend a medicine like Gaviscon.

Gaviscon and breastfeeding

Gaviscon is safe to take while you are breastfeeding. However, if your baby is premature or has health problems, check with your doctor first.

Important

Tell your doctor if you are trying to get pregnant, are already pregnant or if you are breastfeeding.

It is usual to take Gaviscon up to 4 times a day. It is best to take it after meals and at bedtime. This is usually when the pain and discomfort is worst. If your doctor has prescribed Gaviscon, take it when they tell you to.

You can get Gaviscon as tablets. You can also get it as a liquid in bottles or sachets. It comes as a powder for babies and children under 2 years old. You mix the powder with cool boiled water or formula milk.

How much to take

The dose depends on the type of Gaviscon you are taking.

Follow the instructions on the packaging or, if your doctor has prescribed it, take the dose they tell you to.

When to take it

If you get occasional mild heartburn or indigestion, only take Gaviscon when you need it. If you often have heartburn or indigestion, take Gaviscon regularly after meals and at bedtime – up to 4 times a day – whether or not you have symptoms.

If you have been taking Gaviscon for more than 7 days and you are still feeling uncomfortable or in pain, talk to your doctor.

How long to take it for

Depending on the reason you are taking Gaviscon, you may only need it when you have symptoms. Or you may need to take it for a few weeks or months – or for many years.

Talk to your doctor about what is best for you.

What if I forget to take it?

If you usually take Gaviscon regularly but forget to take a dose, do not double your dose the next time. Just leave out the missed dose and take your next dose as normal.

If you forget doses often, it may help to set an alarm to remind you. You could also ask your pharmacist for advice on other ways to help you remember to take your medicine.

What if I take too much?

Taking too much Gaviscon by accident may cause side effects such as wind and bloating (when your stomach feels tight and full of gas). This is unlikely to cause you any harm. If you are worried, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

Gaviscon is a very safe medicine. Most people who take it do not have any side effects. If you do get a side effect, it is likely to be mild and will go away when you stop taking Gaviscon.

Some types of Gaviscon may be more likely to make you feel sick or cause vomiting, constipation or diarrhoea because of their ingredients. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you notice any side effects that bother you or do not go away.

Serious allergic reaction

In very rare cases, it is possible to have a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to Gaviscon. This happens in less than 1 in 10,000 patients.

Immediate action required: Go to the hospital if:

• you get a skin rash that may include itchy, red, swollen, blistered or peeling skin
• you are wheezing
• you get tightness in the chest or throat
• you have trouble breathing or talking
• your mouth, face, lips, tongue or throat start swelling

You could be having a serious allergic reaction and may need immediate treatment in hospital.

These are not all the side effects of Gaviscon. For a full list see the leaflet inside your medicines packet.

Cautions with other medicines

Some medicines must not be taken at the same time as Gaviscon. This is because the medicines can interfere with each other.

Do not take Gaviscon within 2 hours before or after taking:

• antihistamines
• some antibiotics (quinolones and tetracyclines)
• iron tablets
• medicines to treat fungal infections
• beta-blockers (for heart problems)
• penicillamine (for rheumatoid arthritis)
• steroids (for inflammatory and autoimmune disorders)
• antipsychotic medicines (for mental health problems like bipolar disorder and schizophrenia)
• chloroquine (for malaria)
• estramustine (for prostate cancer)
• bisphosphonates such as alendronic acid (to treat and prevent bone problems such as osteoporosis)
• levothyroxine
• a protein pump inhibitor (PPI) such as omeprazole and lansoprazole

It is safe to take paracetamol at the same time as Gaviscon. Do not take other painkillers, like ibuprofen or aspirin, with Gaviscon without talking to your doctor or pharmacist first. These can make your symptoms worse.

Mixing Gaviscon with herbal remedies and supplements

There are no known problems with taking herbal remedies and supplements alongside Gaviscon.

Important

For safety, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including herbal remedies, vitamins or supplements.

How does Gaviscon work?

Gaviscon is a type of medicine called a “reflux suppressant”. Reflux is when stomach acid travels up your food pipe and gives you a burning feeling in your chest.

Reflux suppressants like Gaviscon contain alginic acid which is made from seaweed. Alginic acid makes a protective foam layer that floats on top of the contents of your stomach. This stops stomach acid escaping into your food pipe.

Gaviscon also contains an antacid that neutralises stomach acid and reduces pain and discomfort. 

When will I feel better?

You should start to feel better soon after taking a dose of Gaviscon. The effect of 1 dose should last for around 4 hours.

If you have bought Gaviscon to treat yourself and you do not feel better after taking it for 7 days, tell your doctor. They may want to do tests or try a different medicine.

Is it safe to take Gaviscon for a long time?

Gaviscon does not usually cause problems when you take it for a long time. Tell your doctor if you need to take it regularly for more than a week.

Are there other medicines similar to Gaviscon?

Yes, there are similar medicines to Gaviscon. Examples are Acidex and Peptac.

Like Gaviscon, these medicines are reflux suppressants. They work in the same way as Gaviscon, to reduce acid in your stomach and prevent excess acid escaping into your food pipe. They generally work as well as Gaviscon and have similar side effects. However, they may be given in different doses to Gaviscon.

Sometimes, if Gaviscon does not work or agree with you, your doctor or pharmacist may suggest another reflux suppressant. 

Are there other indigestion medicines?

There are a number of different medicines for indigestion and heartburn.

• Antacids include Tums (calcium carbonate), Maalox and Milk of Magnesia. These relieve indigestion and heartburn by neutralising the acid in your stomach. They work quickly and make you feel better for a few hours. They are ideal if you occasionally get stomach acid problems. You can get antacids from pharmacies and supermarkets.

• Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) reduce the amount of acid your stomach produces. Most PPIs are available on prescription only – they include omeprazole and lansoprazole. You can buy the lowest strength omeprazole and esomeprazole from pharmacies.

• H2 blockers (histamine antagonists) reduce the amount of acid made in your stomach, but they do this in a different way to PPIs. For example, your doctor might prescribe ranitidine (Zantac), cimetidine (Tagamet), famotidine (Pepcid) and nizatidine (Axid). You can also buy famotidine and ranitidine from pharmacies.

Can I take Gaviscon with a proton pump inhibitor?

If your doctor has prescribed a proton pump inhibitor (PPI), such as lansoprazole, to reduce the amount of acid your stomach produces, you can take Gaviscon with it. But take these medicines separately, leaving a gap of 2 hours between them.

Is the Gaviscon I buy the same as on prescription?

Doctors can only prescribe some kinds of Gaviscon – not the full range available from pharmacies and supermarkets.

Different kinds of Gaviscon contain different ingredients. Speak to your doctor or pharmacist to make sure you get a medicine that suits you.

How do I come off Gaviscon?

Usually you can stop taking Gaviscon without reducing the dose first.

If you have taken Gaviscon regularly for a long time, talk to your doctor before you stop taking it. Stopping suddenly may mean that the acid stomach contents come up into your food pipe and make your symptoms come back.

Will it affect my fertility?

There is no firm evidence to suggest that taking Gaviscon will reduce fertility in either men or women.

Will it affect my contraception?

Gaviscon does not affect any type of regular contraception including the contraceptive pill. However, it may reduce the effectiveness of one type of emergency contraception called Ellaone (ulipristal) if taken together.

It may be better to avoid taking Gaviscon a few hours before and after taking Ellaone, or use a different emergency contraceptive instead.

Can I drive or ride a bike?

Yes, taking Gaviscon should not affect your ability to drive or ride a bike.

Can I drink alcohol with it?

Alcohol does not interfere with the way Gaviscon works. But drinking alcohol makes your stomach produce more acid than normal. This can irritate your stomach lining and make your symptoms worse.

Can lifestyle changes help?

Making a few changes to your diet and lifestyle may help if you have problems caused by too much stomach acid.

It can help if you:

• keep to a healthy weight or lose weight if you need to – extra weight can put pressure on your stomach and make acid reflux worse
• do not eat foods that can make your symptoms worse, including rich, spicy and fatty foods, and acidic foods like tomatoes, citrus fruits, salad dressings and fizzy drinks
• cut down on caffeinated drinks, such as tea, coffee and cola, as well as alcohol and smoking
• try not to eat for at least 3 hours before you go to bed
• raise the head of your bed a little