Alginate Therapy vs H2 Blockers

Struggling with heartburn, chest pain, and acid reflux? You’re not alone; gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) affects 14-20% of adults in the U.S. GERD impacts your quality of life, and if the symptoms are not controlled, it can cause esophagitis or Barrett’s esophagus.

Among the available options for GERD, alginate therapy and H2 blockers are widely used.

Both aim to provide relief from reflux symptoms, but they work differently and are suitable for different individuals based on their needs.

I am a PhD-trained biomedical scientist and health communicator, committed to sharing science-backed information you can rely on. Let’s go over some evidence-based information about alginate therapy and H2 blockers, to help you understand how they work, their benefits and limitations, and which one is best for you. 

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• Alginate therapy and H2 blockers both help you with your acid reflux and GERD symptoms, but they work differently.

Alginate Therapy

• Alginates form a shield that stops the acid, pepsin, and bile salts from reaching into esophagus. 
• Effective for your post-meal reflux, nighttime reflux, LPR, and NERD.
• Works fast, safe for long-term use, natural, and doesn’t interfere with your gut health.

H2 Blockers

• Suitable for occasional heartburn or nighttime acid reflux.
• Loses effectiveness over time.
• Doesn’t address pepsin or bile salts in acid reflux.
• Has side effects like altered gut health, headaches, dizziness, and impacts on the central nervous system in some cases.

Best Strategy: 

• Choose alginate therapy for long-term acid reflux, such as post-meal, nighttime, or non-acid reflux symptoms.
• Use H2 blockers for occasional and short-term acid reflux symptoms.
• Combine alginate therapy from reflux gourmet with H2 blockers for better and broader relief after consulting with your physician.

Alginate Therapy vs H2 Blockers: A Quick Comparison

Characteristics	Alginate Therapy	H2 Blockers
Mode of action	Forms a physical barrier, prevents reflux, doesn’t stop acid production	Reduces acid production, doesn’t prevent reflux itself.
Speed of action	Works immediately	Takes 30-60 minutes to work
Effectiveness	H2 blockers can reduce acid but are not effective alone for post-meal reflux, nighttime reflux, and LPR.	Not absorbed in blood stream, acts locally and doesn’t interfere with digestion. Bloating and mild nausea.
Safety and side effects	No known tolerance, can be used daily, and suitable for long-term use	Generally safe but loses effectiveness over time.Headache, dizziness, and gastrointestinal upset.
Tolerance and long-term effects	Taken once or twice daily.Taken in advance for reflux, and doesn’t provide immediate relief.	Tolerance can develop fast, dose increase may be needed.
Impact on digestion and gut health	Supports digestion, preserves stomach’s natural acid without affecting gut microbiota	May affect absorption of vitamin B12 and iron, and alter gut microbiota.
Convenience and dosing	Taken after meals and before bedtime. Provides immediate relief and works on demand.	Taken once or twice daily.Taken in advance for reflux and doesn’t provide immediate relief.

Acid Reflux in a Nutshell

Our stomach produces acid to digest the food we eat. To prevent stomach contents from flowing backward into the esophagus, we have something called the LES, or the lower esophageal sphincter. It is a circular muscle that works like a gate that opens and shuts to regulate the flow of stomach contents. Acid reflux occurs when the LES weakens or opens too often.

Contrary to popular belief, reflux is not caused solely by acid. The symptoms of reflux are also caused by pepsin (an enzyme that helps in digestion) and bile salts (digests fat and damages esophagus).  Being aware of the different types of reflux can help you address the symptoms properly.

What is Alginate Therapy?

Alginate therapy is a physical, locally acting treatment for GERD using alginic acid, a natural substance derived from seaweed. The raft acts like a barrier on the post-meal acid pocket in the upper stomach to prevent acid reflux. 

What is different about alginate therapy is that it doesn’t stop or prevent acid production; it blocks the acid from reaching the esophagus via a mechanical means.

Key Features of Alginate Therapy

• Natural and free from side effects.

• Scientifically proven to be more effective than antacids.

• More effective than proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) for non-acidic reflux.

• Reduces the effect of pepsin and bile salts in reflux material.

• Suitable for children, lactating mothers, and pregnant women.

Reflux Gourmet: A Good Alginate Therapy Option

Among all the alginates available, Reflux Gourmet stands out as one of the top options. It is a popular alginate formulation used for nighttime reflux, laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR), and symptoms such as hoarseness or chronic cough that are associated with acid reflux.

Key differentiators of Reflux Gourmet include:

• It is free from glycerin, paraben and potassium.

• It is developed by experts who understand the science.

• It is clinically safe and FDA-approved as a food ingredient, hence safe to use.

• It is available in the form of gel and chewing gum with natural flavours.

What are H2 Blockers?

H2 blockers, also called histamine-2 receptor antagonists (H2RAs), suppress the acid production. They are used to treat acid reflux episodes and GERD.

They block the histamine receptors on the parietal cells present in the stomach lining, thus stopping the production of hydrochloric acids (stomach acids). 

Common H2 blockers include famotidine, cimetidine, and nizatidine.

Key Features of H2 Blockers

• They work within 60 minutes, and the effect lasts for 4 to 10 hrs.

• They are effective for nighttime acid reflux.

• They don’t alter your gut microbiota like proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs).

• They are generally safe for pregnant women with acid reflux.

• They can have side effects, such as diarrhea, constipation, headache, fatigue, or drowsiness.

• Patients with renal impairment, or above 50 years, can have an impact on their central nervous system.

Can Alginates Be Combined With H2 Blockers?

Wondering if alginate therapy could be combined with H2 blockers? Yes, in most cases.

Apart from creating a raft to prevent acid reflux, they can remove both bile salts and pepsin, preventing them from spreading and damaging tissues. Neither H2 blockers nor PPIs directly act on bile salts and pepsin, unlike alginates. 

So, combining alginate therapy with H2 blockers could be effective in treating both acid and non-acidic reflux, called non-erosive reflux disease (NERD). 

Moreover, PPIs are not effective for NERD at all. So, if you’re suffering from non-acidic reflux and you have no visible damage to the esophagus, you can try combining Reflux Gourmet’s alginates with your usual H2 blockers for better relief.

Note: Remember, not all alginate formulations are same, and the raft strength is important for better efficacy. Talk to your physician about when you want to start alginate therapy to avoid any complications or side effects.

Who Can Benefit from Alginate Therapy?

Alginate therapy is beneficial if:

• You’re looking for a safer and natural alternative.
• You’re suffering from nighttime or post-meal reflux.
• You’re suffering from non-acidic reflux such as NERD.
• You’re suffering from LPR (Laryngopharyngeal Reflux)
• You’re looking for a long-term solution for acid reflux.
• You’ve tried PPIs for a long time with no relief, or you’re at the PPI withdrawal stage.

Note: Reflux Gourmet’s alginate therapy supports your esophageal health while preventing acid reflux. The natural seaweed-derived fiber reduces your hunger pangs and keeps you full. 

Who Can Benefit from H2 Blockers?

H2 blockers can work if:

• You’re suffering from occasional heartburn and acid reflux.
• You’re suffering from mild to moderate GERD symptoms.
• You’re suffering from occasional nighttime acid reflux.
• You need short-term reduction as they lose efficacy with time.

My Final Thoughts

You can’t expect a standard solution for your acid reflux symptoms. What works for others might not work for you. For example, reflux symptoms can also be caused by bile salts and pepsin. It is important to understand the different types of acid reflux, so that you don’t get frustrated trying options that do not work for you.

While H2 blockers are useful for many, offering fast and effective relief for occasional acid reflux symptoms, they lose their efficacy over time. Apart from tolerance, they can cause mild to severe side effects, depending on your age and your pre-existing diseases.

This is why you need a natural and safer alternative like alginate therapy. Among the various alginate options, Reflux Gourmet stands out. Formulated by experts, it offers an effective and natural solution for your nighttime reflux, post-meal reflux, LPR, and NERD. Needless to say, it also acts on pepsin and bile salts, which even PPIs and H2 blockers don’t address. It can be taken regardless of your meal times and comes in natural, tasty flavours in the form of gels and gums. No more nausea due to antacids or bad-tasting medicines.

Alginate therapy offers a clear advantage over H2 blockers, which have side effects like dizziness, fatigue, and severe impact on the central nervous system in old people and patients with renal impairment.

For many of us, it is not about choosing one treatment option over another, but using them in the right way. Alginate therapy can be used alone or in combination with H2 blockers to block acid production. 

Not all the alginate formulations are the same, and the strength of the raft determines its effectiveness. You may even have bloating or mild nausea when you’re using alginates. So, consult your physician and discuss the alginate therapy options you’re considering before starting to avoid any drug-drug interaction or possible side effects.

While there are thousands of options available for acid reflux, choosing science-backed and reliable options like Reflux Gourmet is worth a try. It may work for you or not. So, know your symptoms and decide what’s best for you.