Thanks for the question, and very sorry to hear about your long-term suffering. Ideally, OTC antacids should only be taken temporarily as they repress the normal digestive function of the stomach and do not get to the root of your symptoms. Over time they also deplete many nutrients including calcium, folate, vitamin C, vitamin B12 so I’m very glad you are looking for other suggestions. 

For immediate symptom support, 1 tsp baking soda in water can relieve burning quickly for most people. However, if you haven’t done so, I strongly recommended that you have your physician assess whether you have an ulcer, h. pylori infection, or some other medical condition needing attention.

To support healing, a supplement like Biotics Research GI Resolve or something similar can help heal the damage done by years of GERD and Prilosec use, but you also want to attend to the source of what is inflammatory to you whether that’s an infection (particularly h. pylori), certain food sensitivities, stress, eating too much at once or too quickly, or other causes.

I hope that helps! -Zoe

May I chime in? My food sensitivities are related to my blood type — I’m AB. I abide as close as possible to the Dr. D’Adamo Eat Right for your Blood type program, all free info on line (just Google the topic).  If I do eat something that gives me an upset tummy, I put one drop of Peppermint essential oil on the back of my hand, lick it off and BOOM, I’m good. I’ve also read that Long-term use of meds like Prilosec also cause bone brittle and for me, brain fog (and I don’t need any more fog!). My previous GERD issues caused a lot of scarring and more, all healed since I eliminaed the foods that were like “poison” to me (and I miss them but, not worth it). xx Kelly 

Ok I will chime in here as well. 

(First off, check with your doctor about this and make sure it’s something you can take).  Because I don’t have an underlying issue causing it and you might, so you don’t want to do the wrong thing. Also you want to make sure you aren’t taking anything else that conflicts with it.   

For a couple of years I had bad heartburn.  Was eating Tums day and night and if I didn’t eat the Tums, there it was.   Was suggested to me to take a little Betaine HCL with each meal, or at least each large meal.  Which increases your stomach acid and helps you digest your food. Counterintuitive, right?

I cut the pill in quarters, so didn’t take a full dose,  and just took one quarter of a pill with, say, a spaghetti dinner. So, way under the dosing.  Didn’t take any Tums and toughed it out for a week or two to let everything even out.  Long story short, I don’t have to do anything anymore.   

Also, watching portions is key.  Don’t eat more than you can digest.  And try to eat healthy stuff.

Also watching your liquid intake at meals – keep it minimal.

Oh yeah, and Grape Nuts Flakes were causing me indigestion, so out they went.  

I”m not a health professional and this is my very dumbed-down understanding of it. Could be totally wrong. But I have had two Tums tablets in about two years now, minimal to no indigestion, and I dropped off the prescription of omeprizole at the police station where you drop off your unwanted prescriptions.  Still in the bag(s). 

Yesterday cut up a couple of HCL’s just to fill the container with some quarter- pills, but rarely need them anymore. Maybe two a year.

This also worked for my mom, who was the one who told me about it. 

Again, always check with your doctor for guidance and diagnosis. Good luck to you.