What help is available for awful heartburn?

Diet and drugs...: First line of treatment is dietary and lifestyle modifications. Elimination of food and beverage triggers (e.g. Alcohol, citrus, tomato sauce, chocolate, smoking, overeating) and lifestyle changes (e.g. Avoid lying down less than 2 hours after eating, bending over) help with prevention. Antacids, h2 blockers e.g. Pepcid, (famotidine) and ppis e.g. Prilosec are all available otc and provide effective relief.

Heartburn approaches: Elevate head of bed, avoid tight clothes that cinch the abdomen, avoid meals late at night, wait at least 3 hrs after a meal to lie down, eat smaller meals, maintain a healthy body weight, avoid smoking, avoid alcohol, coffee, tea, caffeine & carbonated beverages. Try acupuncture, hypnosis, ginger tea, relaxation exercises. See if specific foods are triggers such as chocolate, corn, fried foods,