Information for the public

Indigestion

What is indigestion?

Indigestion is a feeling of pain or discomfort in the chest or stomach that sometimes happens after eating or drinking. Other symptoms include feeling bloated, burping, or feeling or being sick. The medical word for indigestion is dyspepsia.

Treatment for indigestion

Drug treatment

Your GP should offer you a course of treatment with a medicine called a proton pump inhibitor (PPI for short). The course should last for 4 weeks.

Treatment for Helicobacter pylori

Your symptoms may be caused by a type of bacteria called Helicobacter pylori (H pylori for short). Your GP may suggest a test to see if you have H pylori and, if you do, offer a course of treatment to get rid of it. Please see Information about Helicobacter pylori to find out more.

If your symptoms come back

If your symptoms come back after you've stopped taking the PPI, your GP should offer the PPI at the lowest dose possible to control your symptoms. They should discuss taking it only when you need it to help your symptoms.

If the PPI doesn't work

If the PPI hasn't helped, your GP may offer another medicine instead, called an H2 blocker.

Remember – you shouldn't keep taking antacids regularly for long periods. Although they help symptoms in the short term, they won't cure the problem.

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