We’ve all been there – partway into a delicious dish while seated in a crowded restaurant, your stomach begins to feel uneasy, and then you have the throat-burning feeling that the 5-star food you just ate might come back up. Maybe you ate too fast, maybe it was that glass of wine, or maybe the food just didn’t agree with you. Either way, your discomfort is growing by the minute, and your options include making a beeline for the door or excusing yourself to the bathroom for the rest of the meal.
Fortunately for all of us who’ve ever suffered through that burning sensation during a team dinner, lunch with a client, or your great-aunt Sally’s birthday party buffet (or even worse – when trying to sleep), there are other options – and Gaviscon is only one of many.
Topic Contents
Understanding Acid Reflux and Your Options
This unpleasant, yet incredibly common, experience is known by many names, including gastroesophageal reflux (GER), heartburn, indigestion, acid reflux, and acid regurgitation. All these names alone make it difficult to choose a remedy to relieve your symptoms. Brands all advertise differently named solutions, but many do the same thing.
The cause behind acid reflux (and its many names) is primarily due to a small band of muscle called your lower esophageal sphincter that separates the esophagus (the travelway for your food from your mouth to your stomach) and your stomach. In an ideal eating circumstance, it relaxes so that the food you’ve ingested can make its way through your digestive system. It then contracts or closes after the food has entered the stomach.
Acid reflux occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter does not reclose correctly or otherwise does not function properly. This allows the acid and contents of your stomach to travel back up your esophagus, causing burning (hence the name heartburn), discomfort, and pain.
If you’re anything like me, you want something that works faster than your excuses as you try to escape the restaurant, but something that isn’t going to throw you for a loop or pack more unpronounceable synthetics into your already uncomfortable body. But what works for one doesn’t always work for all, and acid reflux remedies are no exception.
Gaviscon is a go-to for indigestion. It works quickly to neutralize acid and form a barrier between your stomach acid and esophagus, but it can be challenging to find outside the UK. It also has a bittersweet, chalky flavor that I find unpleasant. Convenient? Depends on where you live. Palatable? Barely. I’ve been on the hunt for Gaviscon alternatives (especially since Gaviscon Advance is hard to find in the States) that taste better, work well, and don’t require a trip across the pond to find.
Gaviscon Alternatives at a Glance
Here’s my round-up of supplements and quick fixes to get your heartburn under control and get you back to your meal, free of discomfort:
- Reflux Gourmet – The best natural option for stopping heartburn before it starts. Prevention is worth a thousand cures, right? Right.
- Genexa Heartburn Fix – The best clean OTC option for a Tums-like experience without the synthetic ingredients.
- Tums Naturals – The best local drugstore option for when you need something NOW and you don’t have time to order online or find a pharmacy.
- Milk of Magnesia – The best single-ingredient (or two if you count water) for those wanting to avoid everything medical-sounding but still enjoy food from a menu in a language you don’t know.
- Enzymedica Heartburn Soothe – The best combination formula option if you’ve got more going on than a short bout of indigestion.
What is Gaviscon and Why Look for Alternatives?
Gaviscon is an over-the-counter medication used to relieve acid reflux and indigestion. It is a multi-faceted product designed to keep stomach acid down and relieve pain and discomfort associated with heartburn and upset stomach after eating. While it does receive fairly positive reviews from consumers, you may still want to consider alternatives.
Gaviscon does not work for everyone, which is a primary reason for seeking alternative solutions. If you are in the U.S., Gaviscon has discontinued its regular strength options and now only offers “Extra Strength Tablets and Liquids,” which may be more potent than needed for select individuals. Gaviscon Advance, which incorporates alginates for heartburn prevention, also has to be imported, which does not work if you need it fast. $40 a bottle and three weeks to ship doesn’t work if you’re not sure you’ll last another 30 minutes.
The taste also leaves something to be desired. Acid reflux is unpleasant enough. None of us wants to take something else unsavory to try to stop it. Some Gaviscon products contain lactose, aluminum, and sugar, which can lead to adverse reactions for those with sensitivities to these products. If this sounds like you, and you’re looking for cleaner, more natural solutions for abdominal discomfort, you’re in the right place!
What to Look for In a Gaviscon Alternative
When you have indigestion, discomfort, or heartburn, you want something that acts quickly and works consistently. While these are the primary drivers of most medications, other factors matter. These include:
- Active ingredients – Does this ingredient relieve my symptoms without causing significant side effects?
- Medication make-up – Is the product natural or synthetic? Does it contain artificial preservatives or other chemicals that my body does not need?
- Medication form – Is the medication a chewable tablet, a capsule, or a liquid?
- Speed and length of relief – How quickly does this medication begin to work? How long does it last? How often can I take it?
- Dietary compatibility – Does the product align with my preferred dietary preferences? Does it contain any potential allergens?
- Long-term effects – Can I take this product long-term? Are there side effects to doing so? Does it just relieve symptoms temporarily, or does it help resolve the issue?
Antacids are primarily composed of one or several active ingredients. The most common active bases include:
Magnesium, which acts quickly, but can cause diarrhea.
Aluminum, which also works relatively fast, but can cause constipation.
Calcium, which starts acting upon contact, can cause constipation and elevated calcium levels if taken excessively.
Alginates, which are a natural substance that comes from seaweed, act quickly, often with fewer side effects than other antacids.
Gaviscon tablets are made with magnesium, aluminum, and calcium, whereas the liquid swaps the calcium with alginate. When choosing which antacid product to use, ensure that it meets your individual health and lifestyle needs.
Top Gaviscon Alternatives
Each of the products that made my list of top alternatives for Gavicson is focused on its antacid properties. Some medications may have other uses, including treating various intestinal issues, but here, I’m focusing on simple resolutions for heartburn and indigestion.
Please consult with your healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medications or supplements.
Reflux Gourmet – The Best Natural Option
Reflux Gourmet is an ingestion-worthy dietary supplement that uses alignate therapy to coat the esophagus and prevent regurgitation. Rather than simply calm your symptoms, it actually forms a barrier on top of the liquid in your stomach, keeping stomach acid where it belongs.
Alignate comes from brown seaweed, but thanks to an incredible chef who helped create Reflux Gourmet, their product does not taste at all like seaweed. It’s available in mint chocolate and vanilla caramel flavors, which, while not exactly dessert, are far preferable to the imitation fruit or chalky chemical flavors of other similar supplements.
Reflux Gourmet is an all-natural supplement made in the US, making it easier to find and easier to consume than Gaviscon. What really drove it home for me was that it has no known side effects (no diarrhea or constipation like many heartburn products), and that it’s safe for kids and during pregnancy. It’s found primarily online through retailers like Walmart and Amazon.
Genexa Heartburn Fix – The Best Clean OTC Option
Genexa Heartburn Fix is essentially a clean version of Tums found at Whole Foods, Rite Aid, Amazon, and some Walmart locations.
It works by neutralizing acid in the stomach to suppress symptoms, rather than stop reflux altogether like Reflux Gourmet or Gaviscon.
It comes in a berry-flavored chewable tablet, so if you’re someone who doesn’t mind the chalky texture that comes with chewable tablets and wants a Tums alternative without the synthetic ingredients, this may be a good choice.
Tums Naturals – The Best Local Drugstore Option
To compete with Genexa and other clean antacids, Tums now offers a natural version of its popular product.
Its calcium carbonate base (also the active ingredient for Genexa Heartburn Fix) neutralizes the stomach’s acidity, relieving you of discomfort.
I’m all for supporting clean eating and natural-centric small businesses, but if you’re in a pinch and all you have is a convenience store nearby, Tums Naturals are the way to go.
Milk of Magnesia – The Best Single-Ingredient Option
Milk of Magnesia is easily found at just about every pharmacy and supermarket I can think of. It’s made of magnesium hydroxide and has been in use since the 1800s for everything from heartburn to makeup primer.
It is used primarily to neutralize stomach acid and relieve constipation, so if you have heartburn and constipation, this is the ticket for you.
It is not quite the quick fix as other options, so if you’re looking for instant relief, you may want to look elsewhere.
Enzymedica Heartburn Soothe – The Best Combination Formula Option
While the name Heartburn Soothe implies it’s obviously for heartburn relief, this remedy from Enzymedica is also touted to help protect the digestive tract and rebuild the lining in the stomach.
If you have other GI issues on top of acid reflux, this works triple time to relieve symptoms, protect, and restore your intestinal integrity.
It is a product you’ll likely have to order online through Amazon or their website, since it seems to be out of stock long-term at places like Walmart, Sprouts, and Publix.
Each of these medicines offers different ingredients and forms to meet your individual needs. If you prioritize prevention and natural supplements, try Reflux Gourmet to put your symptoms to rest. For those wanting a simple solution, Milk of Magnesia offers a low ingredient count, while Heartburn Soothe combats multiple problems.
The Bottom Line
So, which of these are going on my medicine cabinet shelf? It’s Reflux Gourmet for the everyday and Genexa Heartburn Fix for instant relief on the go. I love knowing what’s going into my body and supporting businesses that are transparent about their products. There is no one-size-fits-all solution for acid reflux, and there may be some trial and error in finding the medicine or supplement that has the greatest benefit with the fewest side effects. Whenever feasible, I try to consider natural ingredients and feel confident in what I’m putting into my body. Regardless of what you choose, I’d recommend you complement healthy lifestyle changes with one of these top antacids and get back to enjoying good food, good company, and good living.
