An H2 blocker can be taken, and they will work eventually.
But an hour will pass before the person actually is able to fall back asleep.
Or the third option is to take a combination of the two.
Which will provide the quick relief of the antacid and the sustained relief
of the H2 blocker. That, in many ways, is an ideal medication to
take if one is going to experience, unfortunately experience, the breakthrough
of heartburn in the middle of the night.
DAVID R. MARKS, MD: If a person has frequent symptoms,
would you suggest that they take that preventively every night, before
going to bed?
MICHAEL WOLFE, MD: The problem with that is that
if we take it every night, the H2 blocker's at high enough dose, will actually
lose their effect. We develop what's called a tolerance to the medication.
They're best suited for taking on an intermittent basis.
DAVID R. MARKS, MD: Should people try to set a certain
period of time between their dinner and their bedtime, does that help?
JAMES FRESTON, MD, PhD: Yes, indeed it does.
Give yourself two hours. At least. If you've taken a very heavy
or large meal, even more.
DAVID R. MARKS, MD: What about people who like to
maybe have a drink of alcohol or wine at night, does that make the problem
better or worse?
JAMES FRESTON, MD, PhD: It makes it worse.
Those are the patients, or the people, I think who ought to be taking the
--
MICHAEL WOLFE, MD: Oh, yeah.
