Axid Description

Axid or generic Nizatidine is an H2 blocker medication that a doctor can prescribe to treat your symptoms of heartburn or gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) that includes burning in chest or throat, excessive burping, or a sour taste in your mouth. These symptoms may intensify if you lie down shortly after a meal. The generic alternative is not manufactured by the company that makes the brand product.

Unless you seek treatment for heartburn, and especially GERD, you could sustain damage to your esophagus as stomach acid consists of hydrochloric acid, potassium chloride, and sodium chloride. If you have peptic ulcers, Axid will also help heal the lesions and relieve symptoms of bloating, weight loss, and stomach pain.

How Does Axid Work?

Histamine is a chemical substance that has many jobs. One of them is to regulate gastric activity by stimulating the parietal cells in your stomach to produce acid to digest your food. As a histamine blocker, Axid works by binding to the histamine receptors in order to prevent the production of histamine, resulting in less stomach acid being made. If your ulcers are caused by bacteria, you will be given an antibiotic that can be taken along with Axid to kill the bacteria as well as heal the sores in your stomach lining.

Conditions Treated by Axid

Most ulcers are a result of H. pylori, a bacteria that is quite often contracted during childhood and many people can remain unaffected by any symptoms throughout adulthood. These bacteria can impair the lining that protects your stomach and small intestine which allows stomach acid to leak out and cause the open sores known as ulcers.

Non-steroidal anti inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can also cause ulcers as they suppress certain enzymes from producing prostaglandins. Although this helps with inflammatory conditions, by reducing prostaglandins throughout your body, your stomach lining will have less protection and be more susceptible to harmful bacteria.

Before You Take Axid

Ask your doctor if there are any risks with taking Axid while pregnant, trying to become pregnant, or when breast feeding. Tell your doctor about other medical conditions or allergies you have and list any over the counter or prescription meds you currently take or use, including herbal remedies and vitamin or dietary supplements. These may be a factor as to the safety or efficacy of taking Axid, too.

Axid Precautions and Recommendations

You should not take more than 2 Axid in a 24 hour period. Do not stop, start, or change the dosage of any drugs you take without talking to your doctor first. Axid may make you dizzy so do not drive or operate machinery until you know how your body reacts to it. Keep Axid out of children’s reach and never share any meds with others.

Possible Axid Side Effects

• Headache
• Runny nose
• Abdominal pain

Drugs Similar to Axid

• Zantac
• Tagamet
• Nexium Tablets