Symptoms
Symptoms of acid reflux
Classic reflux is burning and regurgitation. Difficulty swallowing, vomiting blood, black stools, or unexplained weight loss are alarm features that need a GP or urgent care, not a simple acid-reducing tablet alone.
Treatments
Acid Reflux Treatment Online
Get acid reflux and heartburn treatment online. UK-registered clinicians review your history, with discreet delivery if a prescription option is appropriate.
Introduction
Treatment overview
Acid reflux happens when stomach acid travels up into the oesophagus, causing heartburn, a sour taste, or a lump-in-the-throat feeling. Occasional symptoms are common; frequent reflux may need a reviewed treatment plan.
Private Pharmacy Care will offer clinician-reviewed options such as acid-suppression medicines where appropriate. This page will be fully available when the service opens.
The condition
What is acid reflux?
Acid reflux happens when stomach acid flows back into the oesophagus, the tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach. Typical symptoms are heartburn (a burning feeling behind the breastbone), acid or bitter fluid in the throat, and sometimes a lump-in-the-throat sensation or a cough at night.
Occasional reflux after a large or late meal is common. Frequent symptoms, or inflammation of the oesophagus (oesophagitis), may need a reviewed plan with acid-reducing medicine and changes to meals and posture. Chest pain that could be a heart attack must never be treated as heartburn.
Private Pharmacy Care provides clear information on this page. When the reflux service is available, a clinician can review licensed options after a consultation. Completing a form does not guarantee a prescription. Always read the patient information leaflet if a medicine is supplied.
Causes
Causes of acid reflux
A muscular valve at the lower oesophagus normally keeps acid in the stomach. When it relaxes too often, or pressure in the abdomen is high, acid escapes upwards.
Products
Available products
Benefits
Benefits and uses
Treatment aims to reduce acid, protect the oesophagus, and support changes such as meal timing and not lying down soon after eating.
Symptom control
Licensed medicines can reduce acid production or help protect the oesophageal lining when a clinician decides they are suitable.
Private review
Share how often symptoms happen, what triggers them, and medicines you already take.
Safety first
We screen for red-flag symptoms that need a GP or urgent assessment rather than a simple acid-reducing tablet.
Discreet supply
If prescribed, treatment is dispensed and delivered in plain packaging.
Eligibility
Eligibility
Online reflux care is for typical heartburn in adults without alarm features. Difficulty swallowing, vomiting blood, or unexplained weight loss needs in-person care.
May be suitable if
- Recurrent heartburn or regurgitation typical of reflux
- You can describe duration, frequency and what you have already tried
- You will follow advice on diet, alcohol and sleeping position
- You can complete a full medicines list including OTC antacids
May not be suitable if
- Trouble swallowing, food sticking, or vomiting blood
- Unexplained weight loss or anaemia
- Chest pain that could be cardiac — go to A&E if unsure
- Symptoms in pregnancy that have not been assessed by maternity or GP services
A clinician decides whether treatment is appropriate. Completing a consultation does not guarantee a prescription.
Start a consultation
Ready to check if Acid reflux treatment is right for you?
Start a confidential consultation. Contact us if you need help choosing another live treatment, or check back shortly.
- UK-registered clinician review
- Confidential online consultation
- Discreet UK delivery
How it works
How it works
Proton pump inhibitors and related medicines reduce stomach acid so the oesophagus can settle. They are usually taken before food. They are not an instant antacid; benefit builds over days.
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Complete a consultation
Answer a short, confidential questionnaire about your symptoms, medical history and current medicines.
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Clinician review
A UK-registered clinician reviews your answers to check the treatment is safe and appropriate for you.
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Dispensing and delivery
If a prescription is issued, our pharmacy dispenses the medicine and sends it in discreet UK packaging.
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Support if you need it
Questions after you start treatment? Contact the team and we will help you with next steps.
Safety
Safety information
Chest pain, breathlessness or pain spreading to the arm or jaw can be a heart attack — do not treat that as reflux. Go to A&E.
Long-term acid suppression is a clinical decision and may need GP follow-up and review of why symptoms persist.
- Tell us about black stools, vomiting blood, or difficulty swallowing.
- Do not keep repeating courses without review if symptoms continue.
- Some medicines interact with acid-reducers — list everything you take.
- Always read the patient information leaflet supplied with a medicine. This page is general information and is not a substitute for personalised clinical advice.
Side effects
Side effects
Short courses are often well tolerated. Headache and stomach upset can occur.
- Headache or abdominal pain Usually mild. Read the leaflet for your specific medicine.
- Diarrhoea or constipation Contact us if it is severe or persistent.
- Nausea Taking the dose as directed with water may help.
- Dizziness Uncommon. Do not drive if you feel unsafe.
Always read the patient information leaflet supplied with a medicine. This page is general information and is not a substitute for personalised clinical advice.
Using treatment
How to take or use the treatment
Always follow the patient information leaflet for your specific acid-reducing medicine. The steps below are general.
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Take PPIs before food if the leaflet says so
Many are taken once daily, 30 to 60 minutes before a meal. Swallow whole with water unless the product is designed to be dispersed.
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Do not stack several acid-reducers without advice
Combining a PPI, an H2 blocker and constant antacids can hide alarm symptoms and cause interactions. List every product you already use.
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Use antacids separately from some other medicines
Antacids can block absorption of certain tablets. Leave the gap stated in the leaflets.
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Review if you still need it
If symptoms vanish, a clinician may advise stepping down. Do not keep repeating long courses without anyone knowing, especially if you have alarm features.
Safety netting
When to seek medical advice
Heartburn is uncomfortable. Cardiac chest pain, bleeding and swallowing problems are different and more urgent. If you are unsure whether pain is from the heart or the gullet, treat it as a possible heart attack.
Seek urgent help (A&E) if
- Chest pain, pressure, or tightness, especially with breathlessness, sweating, or pain in the arm, neck or jaw — go to A&E. Do not assume it is reflux.
- Vomiting blood, or vomit that looks like coffee grounds — go to A&E.
- Black, tarry stools with dizziness or fainting — possible bleeding; emergency care.
- Severe allergic swelling or breathing difficulty after a new medicine — go to A&E.
Contact a clinician or NHS 111 if
- Food sticking, painful swallowing, unexplained weight loss, or anaemia symptoms — see a GP promptly.
- Heartburn most days despite regular pharmacy treatment, or you need antacids constantly.
- New reflux if you are over 55, or you have a family history of stomach or oesophageal cancer — follow GP advice on whether investigation is needed.
- You are pregnant with troublesome reflux — maternity or GP advice is safer than starting a PPI on your own.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Tap a question to see the answer. If you still need help, our team is ready to assist.
Is this service available now?
Yes. Start an online consultation. You can still contact us or browse other live treatments.
Can I keep taking shop-bought antacids?
Often yes in the short term if they are safe for you, but tell the clinician everything you use so doses are not duplicated.
Does spicy food always cause reflux?
Triggers differ. Large meals, alcohol, caffeine, late eating and lying flat are common contributors.
When should I see a GP instead?
Alarm symptoms, persistent symptoms despite treatment, or the need for investigation such as endoscopy.
Why choose us
Why choose Private Pharmacy Care?
A regulated UK pharmacy service with clinician review, discreet delivery and support if you have questions after treatment is supplied.
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UK-registered clinicians
Every request is reviewed by a UK-registered clinician before a medicine can be prescribed.
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Confidential consultations
Complete a private questionnaire from home. Your information is used to check that treatment is safe and appropriate.
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Discreet UK dispensing
If a prescription is issued, our pharmacy dispenses it and sends it in plain packaging.
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Clear safety checks
We ask about your symptoms, medical history and other medicines. Completing a form does not guarantee a prescription.
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Support after you order
Questions about side effects or how to take a medicine? Contact the team and we will help you with next steps.
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Regulated pharmacy care
Private Pharmacy Care is a UK pharmacy service. Named clinicians and public register details are listed on our clinical team page.
Sources
References and medical sources
This page is general information for UK patients. It is not a substitute for the patient information leaflet or personalised clinical advice.
- NHS: Heartburn and acid reflux Patient-facing NHS guidance.
- NICE Clinical Knowledge Summaries UK clinical reference used by healthcare professionals.
- Electronic Medicines Compendium (emc) UK Summaries of Product Characteristics and patient information leaflets.
- MHRA UK medicines regulator.
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