Do you suffer from occasional heartburn?
If so, you may have come across the term gastro-resistant before. But, what does gastro-resistant mean when it comes to medications? With so many different types of drugs on the market, it can be confusing to understand what each one is for.
This blog post will help clear up any confusion about gastro-resistant medications by explaining what they are, how they work, and what does gastro-resistant mean? Read on for more information.
What does gastro-resistant mean?
Gastro-resistant is a term that describes how quickly food gets through your system. It can also be described as how well you can digest foods. You may have heard of the term “gut” or “microbiome”.
The gut is made up of trillions of bacteria, all fighting for their share in your stomach and intestines. A healthy person will have good bacteria with only a few bad ones, but if someone has an imbalance, they might not digest food properly, leading them to feel sick after eating certain things [2].
Gastro-resistant is a term used to refer to any consumable product that will not cause gastric distress, gas or bloating. For a product to be considered gastro-resistant, it must pass through the stomach without being digested and into the intestines, where most of it is absorbed.
This is why these products are often labelled as “digestible” or “gastro-resistant.”
What medications are considered gastro-resistant?
Medications that are gastro-resistant often have a special coating that bypasses the stomach and digests in the intestines [3].
This coating can be made from various materials, such as natural fibres, synthetic polymers or modified food starches.
The type of coating used will depend on the product itself and how it is meant to be consumed [1].
The coating helps in resistance against stomach acid. It means the gastric acid does not damage the medication, so it can still be absorbed through the stomach lining. This can be an important distinction, especially if you have problems with your stomach lining or are prone to gastrointestinal infections.
Many different kinds of medications can be used for different reasons, but they all have one thing in common: they need to go through the digestive system intact. It means that these medications must survive an encounter with stomach acid if they’re going to work properly.
How can I find out if a medication is gastro-resistant?
All certified medications from trusted pharmacies have an imprint on them, indicating what type of medication it is.
If you are taking a medication and are unsure if it is gastro-resistant, you can check the imprint ‘gastro resistant’ on the pill bottle or package to see if it is listed.
If it is not listed, it is safe to assume that the medication is not gastro-resistant.
Omeprazole capsules for acid reflux from e-Surgery, a reputed and trusted online pharmacy, lists the subject medication with the imprint visible in the box.
The same goes for Lansoprazole capsules for acid reflux treatment.
What are the benefits of gastro resistant medication?
Gastro resistant medications are beneficial in several ways. Firstly, they effectively prevent the stomach from digesting the medication, meaning that the drug can be released slowly and over an extended period.
This is important as it allows the medication to reach its target destination in the body without being neutralized by gastric acids. As a result, patients experience fewer adverse side effects and get relief from their symptoms for a longer period.
Additionally, gastro resistant medications are less likely to be absorbed into the bloodstream, which reduces the risk of interactions with other drugs being taken simultaneously.
Are gastro resistant tablets good for acid reflux?
Acid reflux is when the stomach acids travel back up the food pipe or oesophagus and cause heartburn and other irritating symptoms [5].
It is a very common problem that afflicts many people, and treatments are available for it. Gastro resistant tablets can be one such treatment, and they work by delaying the absorption of the medication until it reaches the small intestine.
This helps to minimize the side effects of the medication. There are many benefits to taking Omeprazole and Lansoprazole for acid reflux, including:
- They can help reduce the severity of symptoms like heartburn and acid regurgitation.
- They can also help prevent damage to the oesophagus caused by stomach acids.
- They can help speed up the healing process of any damage already caused and even help prevent further damage from occurring.
Along with proper eating habits and lifestyle changes [4], these medications can be an effective part of an overall acid reflux treatment plan.
If you are experiencing acidity symptoms, consult with your GP to see if gastro resistant tablets may be a good option, particularly if you are taking other medications.
Side Effects of Gastro Resistant Tablets
Those taking gastro resistant tablets may experience certain side effects. The most common of these include:
- Abdominal pain
- Constipation
- Diarrhoea
- Flatulence
- Nausea/vomiting
- Fatigue
- Headaches
Sources
- Gastro-resistant characteristics of GRAS-grade enteric coatings for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical products (NCBI)
- 9 Ways to Improve Your Gut Bacteria, Based on Science (Healthline)
- Using medication: Oral medications – InformedHealth.org (NCBI)
- TRY THESE SIMPLE HOME REMEDIES FOR ACID REFLUX & HEARTBURN (e-Surgery Health Hub)
- GERD (Acid Reflux): Symptoms, Treatment, Causes and More (Healthline)
Further Reading
- Different coatings (swallowing difficulties)
- PANTOZOL Control 20 mg gastro-resistant tablets (Medikamio)
- The importance of coating standardization in gastro-resistant capsules produced in magistral pharmacy (periodicos)
