Under control

GSK research has found that only eight per cent of pharmacy teams would recommend PPIs such as Nexium Control as the first course of treatment for frequent heartburn. Most would recommend antacids or alginates instead. “While these faster-acting and more reactive treatments can help occasional heartburn sufferers, PPIs offer a longer-lasting and protective treatment for those experiencing frequent heartburn,” says GSK.The research found pharmacy teams are also over-estimating how often heartburn needs to occur before it is classed as ‘frequent’.

“In literature, heartburn occurrence more than once in a week is considered ‘frequent’,” says GSK. “This disparity may explain why pharmacy teams are offering shorter-acting solutions rather than long-lasting treatments like PPIs.”The company says it is committed to ensuring pharmacy teams remain upskilled and understand the role PPIs can play in managing frequent heartburn.

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