How do you relieve severe heartburn?

Liquid antacid: If your self-diagnosis is correct, the fastest way to "put out the fire" is with a liquid "fire extinguisher, " like maalox/mylanta. If the fire keeps coming, need a suppressant, like Pepcid (famotidine) twice daily regularly for several days to quiet things down. If fails, see your dr or a GI for evaluation.

Lifestyle measures.: Smaller more frequent meals. Elevate head of bed from the floor. Don't eat within four hours of going to bed. Limit citrus fruits, chocolate, caffeine, tomato products, smoking and peppermint. Lose weight if you're overweight. OTC meds like Prevacid, Prilosec and AcipHex (rabeprazole). If these measures don't help, see GI doctor for EGD.