Digestive Health

Acid suppression, gut motility and liver support: what we stock

The acid-suppressing medicines dominate this category. The proton pump inhibitors (pantoprazole, omeprazole, esomeprazole, rabeprazole and lansoprazole) are stocked at the familiar 20MG and 40MG strengths, with rabeprazole also at 10MG. They are frequently combined with domperidone or levosulpiride in sustained-release capsules, written as pairs such as 40/30MG. The older H2 blockers, famotidine and ranitidine, are also carried.

Motility, spasm and liver preparations

Alongside them sit medicines that act on gut movement and spasm: domperidone, itopride, mosapride and metoclopramide for motility, and drotaverine, dicyclomine and mebeverine for cramping. Lactulose and bisacodyl cover constipation. Pancreatin is stocked as an enzyme supplement. For liver and bile conditions there is ursodeoxycholic acid and obeticholic acid.

Timing changes how well acid suppression works

Timing changes how well the proton pump inhibitors work, and it is the detail most often missed. They act on acid pumps as those pumps are activated, which is why they are generally taken before food rather than after, and typically before the first meal of the day. Taken at bedtime on a full stomach, the same tablet does noticeably less.

Long-term use, and symptoms that need review

These medicines are effective, which is exactly why long-term use tends to drift on unreviewed. Extended courses are associated with reduced absorption of vitamin B12, magnesium and calcium, so a long run is worth discussing with a doctor rather than simply repeating. Some symptoms should not be self-treated at all: difficulty swallowing, unintended weight loss, persistent vomiting, or any sign of bleeding needs assessment.

Capsules that must be swallowed whole

Sustained-release and enteric-coated capsules in this category are designed to survive stomach acid and release further down, which is why they are swallowed whole rather than opened, crushed or chewed. If swallowing is difficult, ask a pharmacist for a form intended to be dispersed rather than breaking one that is not.

Storage is unremarkable for most of the range (dry, below 25°C), though enzyme preparations such as pancreatin lose activity with heat and are best kept away from a warm kitchen.

Sourcing, expiry dates and delivery

Every listing shows the molecule, the strength, whether it is a sustained-release form, and the pack size, along with the guaranteed minimum expiry date before you add it to the basket. All stock ships from India through licensed distributors.