Gaviscon

Gaviscon is a non-prescription medication for the treatment of heartburn and GERD. It is produced and distributed in the UK by Reckitt Benckiser, by GlaxoSmithKline in the US and Prestige Brands in Canada. It is sold in syrup and tablet formats, similarly to other antacids. Gaviscon is based on a mixture of the buffering agents and neutralizers calcium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate, magnesium carbonate and the gelling agents alginic acid and aluminium hydroxide. When taken by mouth, the combination of the alginic acid and bicarbonate creates a barrier which prevents stomach acid from refluxing back up into the esophagus.