Seek emergency medical attention if you experience sudden, severe pain or a rigid abdomen, as standard medicine for stomach pain is not a substitute for treating life-threatening conditions like appendicitis.
You should consult a doctor before starting any medicine for stomach pain if you notice red flags such as persistent vomiting, blood in your stool, or unintended weight loss.
Contact a healthcare provider immediately if your stomach pain is accompanied by a high fever, difficulty breathing, or yellowing of the eyes and skin.

Medicine for stomach pain, such as sodium bicarbonate, omeprazole, or cimetidine, can help reduce discomfort, burning, or bloating. These medications work by neutralizing excess acid, decreasing acid production, or improving how quickly the stomach empties.

Stomach pain is often linked to conditions like gastritis, ulcers, gastroesophageal reflux, or excess gas, but it can also result from infections, stress, or the use of anti-inflammatory drugs. Depending on the cause, treatment may also involve antibiotics, acid blockers, or remedies that protect the stomach lining.

Because medicine for stomach pain can cause side effects like kidney problems, high blood pressure, or arrhythmias, proper medical guidance is essential. In addition to prescription drugs, home remedies and lifestyle changes, such as avoiding alcohol and eating smaller meals, can complement treatment.

Medications summary

This table outlines all the medicines that can be taken to relieve stomach pain. More detailed information can be found below:

Medicine	Best For	How It Works	When to Avoid
Sodium bicarbonate	Fast relief of acid-related pain (indigestion, reflux)	Neutralizes excess stomach acid	Children under 2, pregnancy, vomiting, alkalosis
Aluminum hydroxide	Indigestion, gastritis, ulcer discomfort	Antacid: neutralizes acid and relieves gas	Kidney failure, pregnancy, GI obstruction, hemorrhoids
Milk of magnesia	Acid and gas relief	Neutralizes acid + mild laxative effect	Kidney disease, pregnancy, children < 2
Simethicone	Bloating and gas-related stomach pain	Breaks up gas bubbles for easier elimination	Bowel obstruction or perforation
Omeprazole	Gastritis, ulcers, reflux, frequent heartburn	Inhibits stomach acid production (PPI)	Severe liver problems, pregnancy, allergy to PPI ingredients
Cimetidine	Ulcers, esophagitis, heartburn	Blocks histamine (H2 antagonist) to reduce acid	Asthma, heart disease, dofetilide treatment
Domperidone	Delayed gastric emptying, indigestion	Stimulates stomach movement and speeds emptying	GI bleeding or perforation, pregnancy, children < 12
Sucralfate	Ulcers, gastritis, mucosal protection	Forms protective barrier in stomach lining	Pregnancy, breastfeeding, children, allergy to ingredients
Clarithromycin + Amoxicillin + PPI	H. pylori-related gastritis or ulcers	Antibiotic + acid suppression to eradicate infection	Allergy to any component, without confirmed H. pylori infection

You are encouraged to speak to your doctor or pharmacist before starting any new medications, and to take your medications as prescribed.

List of medication

The best medicine for stomach pain includes:

1. Sodium bicarbonate

Sodium bicarbonate is an antacid that quickly neutralizes stomach acid. It temporarily relieves stomach pain, heartburn or burning caused by indigestion, gastritis or gastroesophageal reflux.

Brand names: Alka-Seltzer (OTC), Zegerid (OTC - as a combination)

How to take: Take half a teaspoon of sodium bicarbonate and dilute it in a glass of water. You should not exceed 3 teaspoons a day. It can be used for a maximum of 2 weeks, as excessive use can cause rebound acidity, which is when the stomach increases acid production when it detects low acid levels.

Sodium bicarbonate should not be used by children under 2 years old, pregnant women, or people with alkalosis, vomiting or intestinal obstruction.

2. Aluminum hydroxide

Aluminum hydroxide is another fast-acting antacid that helps relieve stomach pain and symptoms related to poor digestion, gastritis or stomach ulcers. It is effective for relieving fullness, heartburn, burning or excessive gas or belching.

This antacid can be found in the form of tablets or oral suspension, and is also available in combination with other antacids such as magnesium hydroxide and calcium carbonate.

Aluminum hydroxide alone or in combination with other substances should be taken for a short period of time, for a maximum of 2 weeks. It can cause side effects such as diarrhea, constipation, nausea, vomiting, increased blood pressure or kidney problems.

Brand names: Alternagel (OTC), Amphojel (OTC), Maalox (OTC), Mylanta (OTC)

How to take: The recommended dose for adults is 10 mL of aluminum hydroxide suspension, or as advised by your doctor.

Aluminum hydroxide should not be used by children under 12 years of age, pregnant or breastfeeding women or people with severe kidney failure, intestinal obstruction, appendicitis, bleeding in the stomach or intestines, hemorrhoids or hypochlorhydria, for example.

3. Milk of magnesia

Milk of magnesia is an antacid containing magnesium hydroxide, which helps to reduce stomach acid. It relieves symptoms like stomach pain, heartburn and burning sensations caused by indigestion.

This medicine can be found in the form of oral suspensions.

Brand names: Phillips' Milk of Magnesia (OTC), Dulcolax Liquid (OTC)

How to take: The recommended dose for adults or children over 12 is 1 teaspoon (5 mL) to 1 tablespoon (15 mL), up to 3 times a day, or as advised by a doctor.

Milk of magnesia should not be taken by children under 2 years of age, pregnant or breastfeeding women, or by people with kidney disease or who are allergic to magnesium hydroxide or any other component in the formula.

4. Simethicone

Simethicone is a remedy indicated to help relieve stomach pain caused by excess gas. It acts by breaking up the bubbles that trap gas, facilitating its elimination and relieving the feeling of a bloated stomach, discomfort or pressure caused by excess gas in the stomach or intestines.

This medicine can be found in the form of tablets, drop solution or soft capsules, to be administered orally.

Brand names: Gas-X (OTC), Phazyme (OTC), Mylicon (OTC), Mylanta Gas (OTC)

How to take: The recommended dose for adults is one 40 mg tablet, taken orally up to 3 times a day, after meals, as advised by a doctor.

Simethicone should not be used if you are allergic to the components in its formula, nor in cases of intestinal obstruction or bowel perforation. Furthermore, during pregnancy or breastfeeding, simethicone should only be used as per medical advice.

5. Omeprazole

Omeprazole is a medicine that interferes with acid production in the stomach. It helps to reduce stomach pain, burning or excessive belching caused by gastritis, gastric ulcer, gastroesophageal reflux or reflux esophagitis.

This medicine can be found in capsule form and should be used as prescribed, as the doses and treatment time vary according to the stomach problem being treated.

Brand names: Prilosec OTC (OTC), Prilosec (Prescription)

How to take: Omeprazole should be taken in the morning, before meals. For the treatment of stomach ulcers, the recommended dose for adults is 20 mg, once a day, or as advised by a doctor.

Omeprazole should not be used by children under 1 year old, pregnant or breastfeeding women, or by people with severe liver problems or who are allergic to the components in the capsules.

In addition to omeprazole, other medicines that inhibit stomach acid production that your doctor may prescribe are: lansoprazole, esomeprazole, or pantoprazole.

6. Cimetidine

Cimetidine is a medicine that helps reduce stomach pain caused by ulcers in the stomach or duodenum, peptic esophagitis, Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome or heartburn.

This medication acts by inhibiting the production of acid in the stomach, by binding to receptors in stomach cells to prevent the action of histamine. Histamine, when activated, increases stomach acid production.

Cimetidine can be found in tablet form and doses vary according to the condition being treated. Therefore it should be taken as prescribed by the doctor.

Brand names: Tagamet HB (OTC), Tagamet (Prescription)

How to take: For stomach ulcers, the doses normally recommended for adults are 800 mg, in a single dose, in the evening, before going to bed, or one 400 mg tablet taken twice a day, at breakfast and at bedtime.

Cimetidine should not be used by children under 1 year old, pregnant or breastfeeding women, or by people who have asthma, heart disease, malignant gastric ulcers or who are being treated with the drug dofetilide.

In addition to cimetidine, other drugs that inhibit histamine action that can be prescribed by a doctor are nizatidine or famotidine.

7. Sucralfate

Sucralfate is a stomach protector indicated for stomach pain and burning in cases of chronic gastritis or ulcers in the stomach or duodenum. It acts by forming a mucus that serves as a protective barrier in the stomach, preventing acid from damaging the stomach wall.

This medication should only be used as prescribed as it can cause side effects such as dark stools, dizziness, headache, dry mouth, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain after eating, constipation, excessive gas, lumps on the skin or psychotic disorders.

Sucralfate can be found in the form of flacons or chewable tablets and is contraindicated for pregnant women, nursing mothers, children or people who are allergic to the components of the formula.

Brand names: Carafate (Prescription only)

How to take: Sucralfate should be taken on an empty stomach, at least 1 hour before eating, and doses vary according to the condition being treated. Therefore it should only be taken as prescribed.

In addition to sucralfate, another gastric protector that your doctor may recommend is bismuth salts.

8. Clarithromycin

Clarithromycin combined with amoxicillin or metronidazole, and a proton pump blocker such as omeprazole or esomeprazole, for example, is an antibiotic that can be prescribed by a doctor to treat cases of stomach ulcers or gastritis caused by H. pylori infections.

These antibiotics should only be taken as prescribed, once the infection is confirmed, through evaluation of symptoms and testing. Learn more about H. pylori symptoms and how to detect them.

Brand names: Biaxin (Prescription only), Prevpac (Prescription only - as a combination pack)

How to take: Clarithromycin, combined with amoxicillin and omeprazole, should be taken orally. The recommended doses for adults are 1 capsule of omeprazole, 2 capsules of amoxicillin and 1 tablet of clarithromycin, morning and evening, before meals, for 1 week of treatment or as advised by a doctor.

Antibiotics can cause side effects such as diarrhea, vomiting, poor digestion, nausea, abdominal pain, skin reactions, headache, taste changes and insomnia, and are only available with a doctor's prescription.

Home remedies for stomach pain

Home remedies for stomach pain, such as sea buckthorn, mastic, lettuce, dandelion or mugwort teas, for example, can help reduce acidity or inflammation in the stomach, and can be used to complement the treatment prescribed by your doctor.

These home remedies are a great option to help manage pain or burning in the stomach and can be taken 3 to 4 times a day, preferably on an empty stomach and between meals. Check-out other teas for an upset stomach that you can take at home.

In addition, you should reduce stress, eat a diet with reduced sweets, fats and fried foods. You should avoid soft drinks and alcoholic beverages, as well as avoid smoking. Consuming small, frequent meals and avoiding eating late at night may also help reduce acid reflux and discomfort.

Frequently asked questions

Some commonly asked questions regarding what to take for stomach pain include:

1. What is the best medicine for stomach pain?

It depends on the cause. Antacids like aluminum hydroxide help with indigestion, while omeprazole is best for acid-related conditions like gastritis or GERD. For gas-related discomfort, simethicone is effective.

2. Can I take more than one type of stomach medicine at once?

Only under medical supervision. Some combinations may be safe (e.g., omeprazole + simethicone), while others can increase side effects.

3. When should I see a doctor for stomach pain?

If the pain is severe, persistent, or accompanied by symptoms like vomiting blood, black stools, fever, or unexplained weight loss.

4. Are home remedies enough to treat stomach pain?

They may help mild cases or complement treatment, but are not substitutes for medical care in serious conditions like ulcers or infections.

5. Can I take these medicines while pregnant?

Some are safe short-term (e.g., certain antacids), but many, including domperidone, sucralfate, and antibiotics, should only be used with medical approval.

Medicine for Stomach Pain: Medications (OTC/RX) & Home Remedies