Bye GORD - thanks to Gaviscon! (Gaviscon Advance)

Member Name: mizmir

Product:	Gaviscon Advance
Date:	19/01/09 (134 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Very effective and fast acting, tastes OK

Disadvantages: Expensive

I have Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) which can be very painful. When I first had symptoms, before I knew what it was, I thought I was having a heart attack - the pain was so intense! I was also sick and couldn't get comfortable. Thankfully it was diagnosed and - apart from some very unpleasant investigations involving cameras down the throat - things started to improve. Initially I was on a prescription drug called Zoton which worked well at keeping things under control - but my doctor and I were both keen that I should not have to be on prescription drugs for ever. This is where Gaviscon came in. I soon found that it I could reduce the Zoton and instead take a Gaviscon tablet or a mouthful of the liquid if I felt any symptoms. I am now completely off Zoton and only need to take Gaviscon every now and then. Note I did this under supervision from my doctor - I'm not recommending anyone stops taking prescription medicine without their doctor's agreement.

This is a very effective medicine. When I do take it I know it will relieve the symptoms immediately. This is important as when all this started I got so I was afraid to eat because the pain was so bad when I did. But now I can eat pretty much anything and be fine - only occasionally reaching for my bottle of Gaviscon.

Gaviscon contains sodium alginate which forms what they call a "raft" in the stomach stopping the acid flowing back up out of the stomach and burning the oesphagus. It comes in two flavours of liquid - the original aniseed and mint, as well as three flavours of tablet (mint, original and lemon). I have tried them all - funnily enough my favourite tablets are mint but my favourite liquid is aniseed. The lemon tablets I think are awful!

I keep tablets with me everywhere just in case and a bottle of liquid at home. The liquid acts fastest I find but they are all effective. Dosage is up to 2 teaspoons or 2 tablets for an adult but I have to admit I just have a swig from the bottle when I need one!

Gaviscon is not cheap - £4.56 for a 300ml bottle and £1.94 for 16 tablets from Tesco - but it is well worth it. I wouldn't be without mine.

Summary: Effective every time