Do you really need to take medicine for acid reflux?

While proton pump inhibitor (PPI) drugs like Prilosec or Nexium are mostly considered harmless, there's a downside: They suppress acid production in your stomach so well that you may end up with a rebound effect (symptoms crop up or worsen as soon as you stop taking them). If you've been having heartburn at least twice a week for a month or more, it probably makes sense to use a PPI because you'll likely need it long-term anyway, says Christina Reimer, lead author of a study on this phenomenon. But if it's not that bad or frequent, you may want to try other options first (don't eat close to bedtime, avoid spicy foods, etc.).

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