Quote Originally Posted by FakeBoobsRule
Birdgirl, did you know that antacids that contain calcium are the least effective antacids? Calcium stimulates acid production by the stomach so calcium carbonate will neutralize stomach acid initially but will cause your stomach to produce more acid 30-60 minutes later? Preparations containing aluminum hydroxide and magnesium hydroxide are much more effective! Now everyone is going to say "stay away from aluminum!" This is why milk will provide initial relief too because it is slightly basic but then the calcium starts things back up so overall it isn't very effective.
This is good to know--and it would have changed things back in my own GERD days had I known that. I've had the organic chemistry and, of course, my first-year physiology, but I certainly didn't translate it there with the antacid recommendation, did I? Glad you told me, though, because that can make a tremendous difference to people I know, and maybe it was the calcium-driven acid production reasoning behind my own internist advising against milk. I took lots of Reglan back in those days. One of the few good things about having a post-peritonitis re-fashioned digestive system is the fact that GERD no longer gives me any trouble.

Thanks--and keep up the good work, FBR!