At a glance

• Notice which meals, drinks, positions or medicines are linked with your symptoms.
• Use reflux medicines as directed and check before long-term self-treatment.
• Arrange review for frequent symptoms or any swallowing difficulty.

Reducing symptoms

• Try smaller meals and avoid lying down soon after eating, particularly when this clearly triggers symptoms.
• Limit only the foods or drinks that consistently affect you rather than using an unnecessarily restrictive diet.
• If relevant, gradual weight management and stopping smoking may improve symptoms and broader health.
• Raise the head of the bed for troublesome night symptoms; extra pillows alone may bend the body and be less helpful.

Check the plan

• Antacids, alginates and acid-reducing medicines have different roles and interactions; ask a pharmacist or clinician what is appropriate.
• Take prescribed treatment for the dose and duration advised, and do not stop a long-term medicine abruptly without checking.
• Review medicines that may worsen reflux rather than stopping them yourself.

When to book a GP review

• Food sticks, swallowing is painful or you repeatedly cough or choke with meals.
• There is persistent vomiting, unexplained weight loss, anaemia or loss of appetite.
• You vomit blood or pass black or bloody stools.

Follow-up

• Arrange review if symptoms occur regularly, disturb sleep or return when treatment stops.
• Confirm whether ongoing medicine, testing or a step-down plan is appropriate for you.
• Seek review earlier if symptoms first appear later in life or are changing.

Emergency advice

Call 000 for severe or persistent chest pressure or pain, especially with breathlessness, sweating, nausea, faintness or pain spreading to the arm, jaw, back or shoulder.

Rochedale Family Practice is not an emergency service.