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Penicillin Treatment for Acid Reflux

Penicillin is not an effective treatment for acid reflux. The main symptoms of acid reflux are heartburn, which is a burning sensation in your chest, and acid regurgitation, which is a sour taste in your throat. Acid reflux is treated with medications that reduce stomach acid. If you are experiencing a burning pain in the area from your navel up to your breastbone, you may have a peptic ulcer. Treatment for peptic ulcer disease may include antibiotics, but not penicillin.

  1. Acid Reflux

    • Acid reflux is a common digestive problem that occurs when stomach acid flows backward into your esophagus or "food pipe." This backwash of acid can irritate the lining of your esophagus and cause heartburn or acid reflux. If you experience heartburn symptoms more than two days a week, you may have gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD, which is a chronic disorder. People with GERD may develop erosions in their esophagus in addition to other symptoms, according to the Mayo Clinic.

    Treatment for Acid Reflux

    • Occasional acid reflux may be treated with lifestyle changes, such as losing weight, eating smaller meals and avoiding foods that seem to trigger your symptoms, the Mayo Clinic adds. Antacids, such as Tums, neutralize stomach acid and may relieve occasional heartburn. Over-the-counter proton pump inhibitors, such as Prilosec OTC, are indicated for short-term treatment of episodes of frequent heartburn. If your symptoms persist or worsen, you should visit a doctor. Prescription strength proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are the standard of care for patients with GERD. PPIs are very effective at controlling symptoms and healing erosions in your esophagus.

    Peptic Ulcer Disease

    • Peptic ulcer disease (PUD) is another common gastrointestinal disorder. Abdominal pain is the most common symptom of PUD; however, some people may feel pain anywhere from the navel to the breastbone, which may be hard to distinguish from the symptoms of acid reflux. Peptic ulcers appear in your small intestine and are caused by a bacteria called Helicobacter pylori (H pylori). Your doctor can perform simple tests to see if you have H pylori.

    Treatment for Peptic Ulcer Disease

    • If you have H pylori, your doctor will use a combination of medicines to treat your PUD--antibiotics to kill the bacteria and PPIs to reduce the amount of acid in your digestive tract to relieve your symptoms and help your ulcers to heal. The most commonly recommended regimen is to prescribe a PPI with two or more antibiotics, including amoxicillin, clarithromycin and metronidazone.

    See Your Doctor

    • If you are taking penicillin to treat reflux systems, you will not get better. You should keep track of the symptoms you are experiencing and write them down. Also list all medications you are taking. Then take the list to your doctor to help her correctly diagnose the cause of your symptoms. Your doctor can then implement a treatment program that will effectively treat your symptoms and heal any underlying disease.

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