TAKE ACID REFLUX PILLS FIRST THING

STOMACH acid drugs, such as omeprazole, stop the cells lining your stomach producing too much stomach acid by turning off their ‘proton pumps’. That’s why these drugs are known as proton pump inhibitors, or PPIs.

More stomach acid can’t be produced until new pumps are made by the stomach cells, which takes around 36 hours.

Normally, PPIs are taken in the morning because the drugs only turn off the pumps if they have been activated by new food in the stomach.

Taking PPIs in the morning, 30 minutes before food, shuts off the proton pumps until new pumps can be made, reducing stomach acid production for the next 36 hours.

Taking a PPI when you’ve finished eating for the day is much less effective – yet many people take PPIs just before bed in the mistaken belief it will prevent night-time acid reflux.

It won’t.