Gaviscon Advance Peppermint Flavour 500ml

I’ve used both the liquid and tablet form of Gaviscon Advance (from the UK), as well as a new product from the United States. In addition, I have researched Gaviscon Advance significantly. Here are answers to just about everything related to this product.Q. What is the difference between Gaviscon Advance, Gaviscon, and Gaviscon Extra Strength?A. Gaviscon Advance is manufactured in the UK, while the other two are manufactured in the US. More importantly, what makes Gaviscon Advance different than the other two products and almost every other brand of antacid, is that it contains sodium alginate. Again, neither Gaviscon nor Gaviscon Extra Strength contains sodium alginate.Q. What is sodium alginate, and how does it work?A. It is made from seaweed. After ingesting, it makes its way down the throat, then through the esophagus and into the top of the stomach. It actually hardens there, on top of the stomach contents, creating a barrier through which stomach acid cannot pass back up into the esophagus. This barrier is often called a “raft”, as it is floating on top of the digested food.Q. What happens if the stomach acid gets into the esophagus?A. The lining in the stomach is very strong and not affected by stomach acid. But when the stomach acid makes its way into the esophagus, it can burn the lining, resulting in pre-cancer or cancer itself. If you have LPR, as I have, the acid can make its way further up into the throat and mouth as well.Q. How long does the raft stay there?A. It typically stays for 2-3 hours under ideal conditions, then starts to deteriorate. Eating or drinking within that timeframe could cause it to deteriorate a little faster.Q. What is the difference between the liquid Gaviscon Advance and the tablet Gaviscon Advance.A. Both contain the alginate. The liquid comes in aniseed or peppermint. The tablet comes in peppermint only. I’m not a fan of the two strong flavors in the liquid. The tablet is a mild soft mint flavor. If taking the tablet, don’t chew it, which gets messy. Instead let it dissolve in your mouth. Other differences between the liquid and the tablet are in the inactive ingredients.Q. What are those differences in the inactive ingredients?A. The sweetener in the liquid is sodium saccharin versus aspartame in the tablets. The liquid contains parabens while the tablets does not. There are other differences as well.Q. Why is Gaviscon Advance not available in the US?A. I have not been able to find an answer to that, but possibly it is related to the fact that aspartame, which was once banned in the United States, is used in the tablets.Q. What is the competitor product that is made in the US and that contains an alginate?A. I’m not going to provide the name, but it sure tastes good. However, for me, it had absolutely no effect in stopping stomach acid. It seems to have worked for others though. I would also say it is much more expensive per serving than Gaviscon Advance.Hope that answers your questions. Good luck treating your acid reflux!

Gotta drink this fast, because the taste and texture are awful, but it's worth it because it works!!! The chewable actually tastes great and is cheaper per serving, so I switched to those.

I was at my breaking point after a series of traumas last year put my lpr and gerd into a severe state. I couldn't eat anything but rice pudding, bananas, and smoothies. Doctors showed no interest in trying to really treat the problem. They threw me on pantoprazole, told me to diet and lose weight and called it a day. After 24 hours of using this and gargling with baking soda and water, I am already about 40 percent better. It's thick and hard to swallow, you have to force it down. I prefer aniseed but this flavor will do as well. It's worth a shot guys, if you are suffering.

Super strong mint and man is it thick.

I use the product for LPR, which is a form of Acid Reflux that bypasses the usual gastro/esophageal complications and flows quickly up into the Larynx/throat. The main damaging agent in this form of Reflux is Pepsin, a digestive enzyme that lies dormant in the Larynx and throat after a Reflux episode until it is activated by coming into contact with acidic food and drinks that are consumed. Pepsin can likewise be deactivated by reducing the PH, which can be done by avoiding acidic consumables or drinking alkaline water. It's important to neutralize Pepsin because the Larynx does not have natural defenses against damage caused by it. There is limited medical research that suggests this exposure to Pepsin over the long term can lead to Laryngeal cancer, though the jury is still out due to the lack of convincing studies that consider the alcohol and tobacco usage of participants in those studies. This product is said to not only neutralize the Pepsin in the Larynx and throat, but also form a "raft" in the esophagus when taken after meals, which prevents the Reflux event from ever reaching your Larynx in the first place. It is also claimed that the Reflux (containing Pepsin) that does make it up to the Larynx is deactivated and thus, it is harmless. At face value, this sounds like a miraculous solution for a condition that has few to no targeted treatments that work. The issue is that when I take it, I can sense a reduction in symptoms, but it's not a silver bullet. I have to have faith, much like a child has to have faith in Santa, that the Refluxate that I still feel reaching my Larynx is deactivated and not doing any damage. I don't have any other choice but to believe it, so it is what it is. The product is gross, but if it works, who cares? I'll keep buying it until a silver bullet is produced.