Antacids drugs or supplements are hailed for their ability to quickly cure stomach discomfort, indigestion or acidity. The medication has become a household item and it’s a go-to item for patients who buy in bulk for consumption during the times of stomach burning, excessive acid or upset stomach. Antacids are also used to combat the symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux diseases.
Digestive issues or stomach discomfort are largely triggered by the production of high levels of acids in the stomach, and these high amounts of acids can be neutralized by the alkaline nature of antacids. Apart from alkaline antacids, drugs with magnesium and aluminum work wondrously for the patients of acidity, even though they are greatly effective, antacids do not completely prevent the excessive production of acid, they can just counterbalance the effect of existing, high portions of acids.
However, like with almost every other medication, antacids also have some considerable side effects that can’t be completely ignored.
The following are the ten most common effects of antacids:
Side Effect No. 1: Diarrhea
Diarrhea stretched over a long time can result in dehydration which can result in health conflicts, including death. Reduced urination, tachycardia, and declined responsiveness are some common symptoms of diarrhea. Associated with magnesium types of antacids, diarrhea is a major problem for the digestive system.
Side Effect No. 2: Infrequent Bowel Movements or Constipation
Constipation triggers irritating discomforts like abdominal pain, bloating and can result in grave conditions like fecal impaction, fissures, and hemorrhoids. Except for antacids, the common causes of constipation include side effects to medicines like anticholinergics and opioids.
Side Effect No. 3: Kidney Stones or Nephrolithiasis
The stones usually take up refuge in the kidney and get discharged through the urethra. However, the exit of the stones from the body also depends upon the size of these stones, while the small stones are easily discharged through the urinary system with the urine. Stones bigger than 5mm can cause blockage and extreme pain in the gut or the back.
Side Effect No. 4: Osteoporosis
Conditions linked with debilitating bone health, osteoporosis mainly elevate the risk of bones getting broken, mostly amongst the elderly and the weak. Parts of bones that are greatly affected by this condition are vertebrae, hip bones, and bones of the forearm.
During osteoporosis, bones become so weak that a minor amount of stress or strain can result in a broken bone. Osteoporosis also affects daily life activities, and lead to chronic pain and restricted movement.
Side Effect No. 5: Recurring Headaches
Being constantly affected by headaches and neck pains can be quite disruptive to an individuals’ personal and professional life. Debauching all your daily life plans by making you irritated and fatigued, headaches are absolutely distressing. Common causes of headaches, except the antacids are dehydration, stress, and sleep deprivation.
Side Effect No. 6: Vomiting and Nausea
Triggered by an unbraided urge to vomit, nausea can be an exceedingly discomforting ordeal for an individual. The perpetual state of being nauseated can result in throat pain, chest pain and upper abdomen discomfort. Nausea is the body’s reflex towards harmful habits and drug dosage.
Symptoms of nausea can also include conditions like migraines, dizziness, food poisoning, and hypoglycemia.
Side Effect No. 7: Muscle Loss or Weakness
An excessive dosage of antacids can also result in loss of muscle strength, even grave conditions like hypokalemia, muscular dystrophy, and inflammatory myopathy can also be triggered. Muscle weakness is a common side effect of aluminum-based antacids which also contain a considerable amount of phosphate in them.
Side Effect No. 8: Fainting or Dizziness
Closely linked with side effects like nausea and vomiting, dizziness can be triggered by the loss of stability and perception. On the other hand, fainting is a result of muscle weakness and sudden muscle loss. These are two very serious medical conditions and individuals suffering should consult medical guidance.
Side Effect No. 9: Flatulence and Stomach Cramps
Cramps are triggered by the sudden violent and involuntary stretching of the muscle. Stomach cramps are activated when the muscles inside the stomach get contracted which results in discomforting gut pain. Flatulence is associated with the excessive amount of gas being passed through the anus with the action intestine during stomach discomfort.
Side Effect No. 10: Hypermagnesemia
A condition charged by the excessive amount of magnesium getting stored in an individual’s bloodstream. Hypermagniesia can lead to a number of grave conditions like reduced reflex ability, fatigue, affected mental performance, irregular breathing rate, low blood pressure and even cardiac arrest. Caused mainly by the incomplete digestion of antacids, hypermnesia is a grave and discomforting side effect.