Having a sudden aggravation of your reflux condition can be relieved almost immediately by using over-the-counter (OTC) drugs.
However, many OTC’s that may aid digestion or help reduce acidity have several potential problems. OTC’s can actually aggravate your condition in the long run by irritating your stomach or esophagus lining.
The first thing that happens when you go to a doctor complaining of acid reflux or heartburn is that they give you samples of expensive prescription drugs and antacids.
This is the standard marketing practices of the medical and pharmaceutical industry.