Stomach medicine How to choose and ingredients

Have you ever had to rely on those black, bitter pills when you had a stomach ache?

You've probably overeaten and relied on powdered or liquid medicines. "Gastrointestinal medicines" are medications that treat a variety of stomach and intestinal symptoms. Are there any tips for choosing the right one? They come in various forms; what do these different forms mean?

The stomach and intestinal medications we are familiar with are over-the-counter drugs that can be purchased without a prescription. These are medications that relieve unpleasant symptoms of the stomach and intestines.

The shelves of the pharmacy are lined with numerous stomach medicines. Looking at the back of the boxes, you'll notice that the ingredients differ slightly from product to product. How exactly should you choose the right one?

First, check whether your symptoms fall under heartburn or indigestion.

Although both symptoms are caused by problems in the stomach, the treatments are basically opposite.

Heartburn is characterized by nausea and a burning sensation. The stomach secretes stomach acid, which breaks down and kills food. Heartburn occurs when this stomach acid refluxes from the stomach into the esophagus, damaging the esophageal lining. It can be described as a condition where the stomach is working too hard.

On the other hand, indigestion is a condition where the stomach's function is weakened. It is characterized by discomfort around the pit of the stomach. It occurs when the amount of stomach acid or digestive enzymes that break down food together with stomach acid decreases.

What ingredients do they use and how do they work?

Next, choose a medicine containing ingredients that match your symptoms. The ingredients in gastrointestinal medicines can be broadly classified into seven types. These include various ingredients with different properties, such as chemical substances, medicinal herbs, and live bacteria.

For heartburn, gastrointestinal medications containing "antacids" that neutralize stomach acid or "H2 blockers" that suppress stomach acid secretion are appropriate. These work by preventing the "switch" that activates the cells that secrete stomach acid from being turned on.

Heartburn is often accompanied by stomach pain. Therefore, gastrointestinal medications containing "analgesic and antispasmodic ingredients" are recommended. Antispasmodic means that the activity of the stomach is weakened by suppressing the function of the parasympathetic nervous system.

On the other hand, for indigestion, stomach medicines containing "digestive components" and "herbal medicines" such as plants used in traditional Chinese medicine are recommended. This is because the distinctive taste and smell of herbal medicines stimulate the secretion of more stomach acid and saliva.

Some gastrointestinal medicines contain both herbal remedies for indigestion and antacids for heartburn. This is because some cases of indigestion are caused by excessive stomach acid. When excess stomach acid leaks into the duodenum, the brain detects this and reduces the amount of stomach acid produced. As a result, stomach activity weakens.

Why do "fast-acting diarrhea medicines" work so quickly?

To improve intestinal symptoms such as diarrhea and constipation, gastrointestinal medicines containing "live bacterial components" such as live bifidobacteria are recommended. This is because these bacteria have the effect of improving the intestinal environment, such as suppressing the growth of E. coli.

The ingredients in anti-diarrheal and laxatives have opposite effects. To stop diarrhea, it is necessary to suppress bowel movements and reduce the water content of the stool. On the other hand, to relieve constipation, it is necessary to stimulate bowel movements and increase the water content of the stool.

Some readers may have been helped by a fast-acting anti-diarrheal medication when they were unable to go to the toilet. Why does it work so quickly?

One of the key points is how easily the drug dissolves.

"Film formulations," which enclose the active ingredient of the medicine in a thin sheet like an edible film, and "orally disintegrating tablets," which are formed into a tablet shape, dissolve quickly in saliva in the mouth. The dissolved medicine passes through the stomach in 1 to 5 minutes and reaches the intestines.

What is the meaning of the shape of the medicine?

You've probably seen products with the same ingredients sold in multiple forms.

This is for the sake of making it easier to drink.

For example, if a child has trouble swallowing powder, larger granules would be a good option. Granules dissolve quickly in water without floating, so they don't leave much residue in the mouth. They are also easier for children who have trouble swallowing tablets.

The form of a drug also affects its effectiveness. For example, if the active ingredient you want to reach the intestines is easily broken down by acid, encapsulating the ingredient in a substance that is not easily soluble in acid can protect it from stomach acid until it reaches the intestines.

Do stomach medicines also work for hangovers?

Some readers may take stomach medicine or energy drinks before or after drinking alcohol. Some stomach medicines contain vitamins and amino acids that are essential for the liver's function of breaking down alcohol.

Alcohol can damage the stomach lining (causing stomach irritation) and lead to stomach pain and other problems.Taking a gastrointestinal medicine containing "gastric mucosal protective and repairing components" that cover the membrane or promote its regeneration can help prevent stomach irritation.

Herbal medicines such as turmeric are also well-known for their effectiveness in treating hangovers.

This is because experimental results have shown that curcumin, the yellow pigment found in turmeric, enhances the function of liver cells.

Over-the-counter stomach medicines only serve to alleviate symptoms.

If you cannot find an effective medication or if your symptoms recur, please consult a medical professional.