Gaviscon UK version

[theguyfromanotherforum]

Is there any place in Thailand to buy this? I read that UK version (followed by Canadian) is the best as it contains more alginate.

I tried Amazon UK and CA, but they only deliver within the country.

If not is there a reliable online place I can order this from?

[williewolf]

I used to buy gaviscon from the local pharmacy and I never knew there were different versions. It looked and tasted like the stuff I bought in the uk and it was not cheap but it used to give me some relief. I thought you had an endoscopy done? Did the doctor not prescribe any stronger medicine for you?

[dragonfly94]

I by it in boxes. from pharmacy opp phantip plaza 330 for 24. I find bottles don't last long. Y0u can get it most anywhre inc boots, there are 2 version, pink advanced one more expensive

Edited May 12, 2015 by dragonfly94

[Sheryl]

The composition of Gaviscon everywhere is the same but you may be thinking of "Gaviscon Double Action Mint" preperation in the UK, not plain UK Gaviscon. This equates to the Thai "Gaviscon Dual Action". 10 ml (or 2 tabs) contain 500mg sodium alginate, 213 mg sodium bicarb and 325mg ca carbonate. Smae same.

Importing pharmaceuticals by mail requires an FDA import permit which is issued only to licensed pharmacists/pharm companies.

[dragonfly94]

liquid is the best, I never liked the pills

[theguyfromanotherforum]

I used to buy gaviscon from the local pharmacy and I never knew there were different versions. It looked and tasted like the stuff I bought in the uk and it was not cheap but it used to give me some relief. I thought you had an endoscopy done? Did the doctor not prescribe any stronger medicine for you?

He sure did. I had a lump in my throat for almost 6 months which is not almost non existent unless I eat something really bad (like buffet).

However, I still have a lot of trouble breathing. I am refusing to go to a lung specialist as they are completely useless. This is some form of silent reflux where (it seems from doing some research from people with similar problems) acid is affecting my lungs and/or vagus nerve. Some people have reported excellent results with amitriptylin (Elavil), but I am kinda reluctant to take this as I heard it can raise a blood pressure.

I am absolutely, 100% sure I do not have Asthma like doctors are saying. I never had asthma in childhood until I got very sick from flu 3 years ago. My breathing really gets worse after a stressful situation (any stress, even sexual arousal) and it has to be due to production of excess acid. I can run like a champ (as a matter of fact, the longer I run the better I breathe) and every time I get sick I breathe better. I try explaining this to a lung "specialist" and he tells me he never heard of this. Instead he chokes me with some new Asthma medication which actually makes my breathing worse.

[Sheryl]

If the problem is reflux, a PPI is better than Gaviscon (though you can take both.)

Elevate the head of your bed, and don't eat for 2 hours before lying down. Helps a lot.

[theguyfromanotherforum]

Yes, sheryl, I tried. I appreciate your help, btw.

But it seems to me that regular GERD tricks do not work on me.

I can sleep on my stomach just fine, and I rarely have problems at night, probably because my stress levels are low during that time. Even drinking coffee does not bother me that much (unless I overdo it).

I don't know how PPI got rid of my lump in throat issue, but it did. I feel like acid is still going up to my collar bone and just slightly touching my throat.

The strangest thing is that after endoscopy I felt fine for 2 days. Then it all came back.

[theguyfromanotherforum]

Sheryl, I have a question. Are PPI's ok to use as needed (like gaviscon) or they need to be taken constantly to have an effect.

Also, is the cheap version (like miracid) as effective as Pariet, for example. I am not a pharma conspiracy theorist, but PPI's do have long term side effects,

In any case I think Gaviscon does a beter job than PPI in my case.

[Sheryl]

With silent reflux, when is "as needed?" ??

Presumably (if in fact this is the problem) there is reflux occurring without your knowing it at the time. You need to reduce the acidity then, not later when the damage is done and you feel symptomatic.

Inexpensive generic like Miracid is fine.

[chubby]

https://www.shipito.com/

[chubby]

any medical advice is of course, difficult, without a more complete history, eg other medications, age, etc, the G is for geriatric

The formulation of Gaviscon varies by manufacturer. The three active ingredients in Reckitt Benckiser's version are sodium alginate, a bicarbonate (either sodium or potassium in variants) and an antacid (calcium carbonate)

[theguyfromanotherforum]

Tried gaviscon green version. Did not help much, Tried gaviscon pink (dual action) and this is not the only medication that is improving by breathing problems.

I read that Gaviscon in USA has aluminium, but UK is aluminium free. Is the Thai version same as UK?

[Sheryl]

The ingrediants are listed on the bottle/pacjage.

Sodium alginate, sodium bicarbonate, calcium carbonate.

As previously stated, identical to UK preparation.

If by breathing problems you mean the feeling that there is something in your throat, indeed that could be due to the effects of reflux. But if you mean difficulty catching your breath or something else, then there is a respiratory problem quite apart from reflux that needs proper treatment.

I am concerned that prior doctors diagnosed you with asthma. That is a very specific diagnosis with clear criteria and a competent doctor would not make it in the absence of wheezing at a minimum. That you felt worse when given anti-asthma meds does not mean you do not have asthma; you may have both asthma and reflux. Many (but not all) of the medications used to treat asthma will worsen reflux and this needs to be taken into account in treating patients who have both. Asthma can newly occur in adults and especially in adults with GERD.

See http://www.healthline.com/health/gerd/asthma#2

I frankly think you should try a different pulmonary specialist. That the one you consulted did nto seem conversant with management of asthma in patients with GERD does nto mean that none of the pulmonologiosts in Thailand are. This doctor, for exampkle, has published on it:

https://www.bumrungrad.com/doctors/Somkiat-Wongtim

http://www.bangkokchristianhospital.org/dr-profile-e.asp?did=193

(same doctor, different hospitals).

Ditto https://www.bumrungrad.com/doctors/Visit-Udompanich

[faraday]

I've taken Miracid for a long time after being intially prescribed it for GERD. At the time I also had a Barium Swalllow, which was 'interesting' (read bloody uncomfortable)

I read that PPI's can often increase E2 (Estrodiol) in men, but just cannot find the articles - they're on PubMed somewhere. I'd like to stop taking them at some point.

As Sheryl says though, I think you need to see a Pulmo Doc too.

[theguyfromanotherforum]

I did a lot of research on this. Hoarseness, mucus in throat, lump in throat seem to be somewhat common symptoms of this disease.

There are many things that can cause trouble breathing, complications of post nasal drip (I do have sinus issue for many years), hyperventilation, vocal cord dysfunction, stress, LPR,....

Also, on several sites (including dr oz site) it is clearly stated that if you have more trouble breathing in than breathing out this is clearly LPR.

Of course, I can not be 100% sure.

What I am sure of is that every single asthma medication made my condition worse. I went to Chula to see a very good specialist and he told me Asthma is very hard to diagnose. Did a test and my lung function is 95%.

When I run my breathing improves. When I get a cold, my breathing improves. I do not have classic asthma symptoms and I do not have classic GERD symptoms. This all points to Silent Reflux which is from what I understand also difficult to treat. I definitely do not have any heartburn symptoms.

The endoscopy revealed hernia. I do not wish to see another pulmonologist ever again to be honest. They are useless here and in Canada. From reading forums they all seem to easily give out asthma diagnosis simply because they have no clue.

No thanks.

[faraday]

Have a read of this:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23724936

CONCLUSIONS:

Acid stimulation of the distal esophagus results in increased parasympathetic activity and concomitant broncho-constriction in asthmatics irrespective of their reflux state. This strengthens the hypothesis that GER triggers asthma-like symptoms through a vagally mediated esophago-bronchial reflex and encourages a possible role for anti-cholinergic drugs in the treatment of reflux-associated asthma.

[theguyfromanotherforum]

Thanks for that. Although I had to google some words (English is not my first language) I did ask about something similar on this forum a few weeks ago. My question was about vagus nerve which I heard can affect breathing and availability of elavil in Thailand which is antidepressant and is sometimes used for nerve treatment . I asked the doctor about this drug and he prescribed me something "better". Well, it did work sort of but I could barely run the next day due to lack of energy. Anyway this is something I have to discuss more with a GI.

Edited June 9, 2015 by theguyfromanotherforum