Cimetidine Alternatives

In the case of cimetidine, alternatives to the medication may include lifestyle changes, other medications, and surgery. Some medications that may be used as alternatives to cimetidine include other H2 blockers (such as Zantac) and proton pump inhibitors (such as Prilosec). If your heartburn or GERD symptoms are mild, an antacid or foaming agent might work in place of cimetidine. Alternatives to cimetidine may include surgery if your condition is particularly severe.

Cimetidine (Tagamet)

An Overview of Cimetidine Alternatives

Cimetidine (Tagamet^®) is a medication used for treating several conditions related to the esophagus, stomach, and intestines. These conditions include ulcers, GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), heartburn, and other similar conditions. Although cimetidine can be effective for treating these conditions, it does not work for everyone. Also, some people may experience bothersome side effects with the medication. Fortunately, there are several substitutes for cimetidine. Some of these cimetidine substitutes include:

Diet or other lifestyle changes
Other medications
Surgery.

Cimetidine Alternatives Explained

Diet Changes

Especially for mild heartburn or GERD, changes in diet may help to relieve symptoms.

While a GERD diet may help with less serious conditions, diet alone is usually not enough for more serious conditions (see GERD Diet).

(To learn about other lifestyle changes that may help with GERD, see GERD Treatment.)

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