Since almost all of us have experienced the discomfort of abdominal pain we already have our go-to remedies. Some tend to rely on natural home remedies like hot green tea with honey or a warm compress placed on the abdominal area, but most are always on the lookout of over-the-counter medicines that can relieve the discomforting pain the fastest. This way they don’t have to spend the day in bed nursing a painful stomach.
While everyone has their go-to medicines ready to combat abdominal pain, here’s a list of the most popular OTC meds that are worth having in your medicine cabinet. While it might seem a little excessive, it is always better to have some than not need them than to have none and need them.
Medication For Pain Caused By Gas
People who experience stomach pains due to excess gas must have OTC medicines with simethicone as the main ingredient. The most popular options to date are Mylanta and Gas-X because of their efficiency and proven track record with helping get rid of gas the fastest.
For Heartburns And Acid Reflux
When acid reflux is left untreated and undiagnosed this can lead to GERD, which is chronic acid reflux that causes the inflammation and irritation of the esophagus. When stomach acids go up and reach the throat area, this is quickly accompanied by the pain of heartburn which isn’t very pleasant at all.
OTC meds that help deal with acid reflux and heartburn are antacids and acid reducers like Pepcid AC or Zantac 75.
Treating Constipation
The first thing to do when struggling with constipation on a regular basis to increase your daily intake of fiber and water. This change in diet is usually more than enough to keep the bowels running regularly after a few days. However, in more extreme and chronic cases of constipation, a stool softener or any type of laxative are more than enough to help remedy the situation.
Although laxatives are great when used to relieve constipation, it should not be taken regularly as the body will begin to rely on the OTC medication.
Remedy For Cramps Caused By Diarrhea
Diarrhea that is accompanied by cramps is one of the most debilitating things a person can go through. Not only will you spend half the time on the toilet, the other half you will spend hunch over in bed because of the cramping. The best OTC medication to have on hand to treat this type of stomach pain are meds with loperamide such as Imodium or those that have bismuth subsalicylate like Pepto-Bismol or Kaopectate.
Other Types Of Pain
Sometimes the cause of stomach pain is due to inflammation of the bowels and the only OTC medications to treat the issue are acetaminophen like Panadol and Tylenol. While it can be tempting to reach for the handy non-steroidal anti-inflammatory meds such as Advil, Midol, Aleve, and Naprosyn, these can actually irritate the stomach further causing more pain.
When unsure about which OTC medication to take for relieving stomach pains, ask your physician or pharmacists first. Also, take note of the active ingredient in case of an allergic reaction.
Over-the-counter drugs often solve the problem of abdominal pain, but one is discouraged from self-diagnosing and self medicating. Check out our website for more info.
