Symptoms Of Acid Reflux Disease and Prevacid Treatment

The symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are primarily heartburn, regurgitation and nausea. Heartburn is the uncomfortable feeling of burning and warmth behind the breastbone (sternum) but sometimes rising as high as the neck. It usually occurs after meals, when lying down, or at night while sleeping. It is due to the rise of stomach acid back up into the esophagus. The feeling of heartburn my be similar to heart pain, but in actuality a heartburn has nothing whatsoever to do with the heart. It is merely a nonmedical term used to describe pyrosis, which is the correct medical term for the ailment. The sensation of heartburn differs from individual to individual. The actual sensation of the pain may very from burning-like to very sharp and pressure-like. It is also more common in individuals that lie down more often because without the effects of gravity, reflux occurs more easily and the acid is returned to the stomach more slowly.

Though heartburn is the major symptom, patients also experience regurgitation of food soon after eating and a nauseous sensation.

Prevacid (Lansoprazole) is in a class of drugs called the proton pump inhibitors (PPI). The function of these drugs is to block the production of acid in the stomach. The PPI block the enzyme in the wall of the stomach that produces acid. This allows for the healing of the stomach and the esophagus. The drug is available as both capsules and oral suspensions and their usage must be administered by a doctor.