Why do apparently healthy people use antacid tablets?
Proprietary antacids represent a multimillion dollar business in this country. Marketing surveys have shown that approximately one-half of American adults have used antacids. Twenty-seven percent of adults take 2 or more doses per month. Seventy-five percent of total antacid consumption is by heavy users, defined as greater than 6 doses per week (less than 5% of adults). We investigated why apparently healthy people are heavy antacid users. Thirty-seven heavy users were evaluated. The median duration of antacid use was 20 years, and most took antacids 2-6 times per day, concentrated through the work week. The primary diagnosis was reflux esophagitis in 31 (84%), peptic ulcer disease in one, and nonulcer dyspepsia in five. Ninety-five percent had symptoms consistent with reflux esophagitis. Thirty-three completed a 1 month double-blind, randomized cross-over trial of antacid tablets (14 mEq neutralizing capacity per tablet) versus placebo. Twenty-nine correctly identified the antacid pr
