Put speed on your side

Take TUMS® as soon as you experience heartburn symptoms. TUMS tablets provide fast relief of heartburn, traveling quickly to your heartburn zone and neutralizing stomach acid on contact.

Recognize the symptoms and causes

Millions of people experience heartburn, which occurs when stomach acid flows up into the esophagus and irritates delicate tissues.

The classic symptom is a burning sensation, rising from the stomach up to the chest and neck, soon after eating. Sometimes people develop a bitter taste in the mouth or a feeling of fullness in the chest, too.

Foods that are high in fat, acidic, fried or dairy are common heartburn triggers, as are caffeinated and alcoholic beverages. But there are other heartburn causes beyond diet, including gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), excess weight, hiatal hernia and pregnancy. Stress, smoking, prescription medications and vigorous exercise also can play a role.

Heartburn tends to become more common with age. But it doesn’t lead to severe chest pain or trouble swallowing. If you have those symptoms, see your doctor. They could be warning signs of other medical problems.

Fast relief

Speed is what makes TUMS different from other heartburn treatments, both over-the-counter products and prescription medicines. And that means feeling better faster when heartburn strikes. TUMS dissolves easily, travels quickly, and tackles heartburn at the source — neutralizing stomach acid right away. In contrast, some heartburn medications enter the bloodstream and must be processed by the body before they can begin to work. Several hours or days may pass before they take full effect to fight your heartburn. Acid reducers are heartburn medications that decrease the amount of acid produced by the stomach. H2 blockers (or H2 receptor antagonists) like Pepcid AC® lower the stomach’s acid production. Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) like Prilosec OTC®, Prevacid® and Nexium® slow down the stomach cells that produce acid.

To learn more, read our Heartburn FAQs.