Heartburn gone! (Gaviscon Advance)

Member Name: claireislafrazer

Product:	Gaviscon Advance
Date:	30/10/08 (123 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Works fast on heartburn and reflux

Disadvantages: Didnt find it worked well on indigestion

Gavison is a soothing liquid that relieves heartburn (heartburn is when the stomach acid comes back up the oesophagus and burns it). and stopping gastric acid reflux (which is what causes the heart burn) after meals. It is called a "refux suppressant". Because of these effects it can be helpful for people who have hiatus hernias too.

The bottle I have in the house is the 300ml aniseed flavour, it also comes in peppermint I believe. It costs 5.99 in Boots. It is a glass bottle 15cm high including the cap, and 6cm wide. It is also reasonably heavy. The cap is just a latge white screw top.

On the bottle there is a green/blue large sticker with a torso of a man with a fire in the middle of his chest to symbolise heart burn. In purple writing it says that gavison is fast soothing relief from heartburn and indigestion and that it is long lasting. On the boots website it says that its effects last for up to four hours. Also on the sticker it tells your the active ingredients and the dosage.

The active ingredients are (per 10ml) 500mg sodium alginate, 267mg sodium hydrogen carbonate, 160mg calcium carbonate. The sodium alginate is from seaweed and it is called an alginate as it blocks stomach acid from coming back up the oesophagus by forming a floating layer on top of the stomach contents and therefore treats heartburn, gastric ruflux and the flatulence it can cause. It may not be suitable for people on a low sodium or calcium diet.

The dosage is adults and children over 12 take 10-20ml (2-4 5ml spoonfuls) 5ml is a teaspoon I believe. You should take it after meals and a bedtime.

Children over 6 should take 5-10ml (1-2 5ml spoonfuls)

and it should not be taken by children under 6.

It is suitable for use during pregnancy as it doesnt ender the bloodstream.

You need to shake the bottle well before you use it. The liquid itsself is pink and very thick and gloopy. The aniseed taste is very strong and it also tastes quite salty.

My mother says it is excellent for stopping gastic reflux and heartburn which she sometimes gets if she bends over after a meal. She tells me that it works in 5 minutes for her. Also she uses it for indigestion and if she feels full after a meal and says it works excellently for this too. I have used it for this too and to be honest I didnt find it that effective and I didnt like the taste. I think I will stick to my peppermint tea for indigestion and leave it to just be used for heartburn.

Summary: Heartburn Healer