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Treatments for dyspepsia in pregnancy

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Antacids

These are alkali liquids or tablets that neutralise the acid. A dose usually gives quick relief. You can use antacids 'as required' for mild or infrequent bouts of dyspepsia. There are many brands which you can buy. You can also get some on prescription. A doctor or pharmacist can advise. Some points about antacids are:

Antacids are considered to be safe to take in pregnancy.
They can interfere with the absorption of iron tablets. Therefore, they should be taken at a different time of day if you are taking iron supplements. (If possible, they should not be taken two hours before or after taking iron supplements.)
It is probably best to use one with a low sodium content if you have high blood pressure or pre-eclampsia (a complication of pregnancy).

Acid-suppressing medicines

If symptoms are still troublesome despite any lifestyle changes and antacids, your doctor may prescribe a medicine called ranitidine. This medicine works by reducing the amount of acid that the stomach makes. It usually eases the symptoms of dyspepsia quite well. Ranitidine is considered safe to take during pregnancy.

(Note: medicines other than ranitidine that are commonly used for heartburn, dyspepsia, acid reflux, etc should not be used if you are pregnant. For example, cimetidine, or proton pump inhibitors. It is not known whether these other medicines are safe or not to take during pregnancy.)

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