Patient's question:
At any time of day or night. If the food is a bit cold, my stomach gets sour. It's worse at night. If I eat a midnight snack or drink some beer at night, my stomach will definitely get sour. What should I do if I often have stomach acid at night?Doctor's answer:
If acid reflux occurs at night, it is often caused by nocturnal acid breakthrough, leading to excessive secretion of gastric acid and resulting in symptoms. When experiencing such symptoms, quick relief is necessary. Oral medications such as magnesium hydroxide, aluminum hydroxide, and sodium bicarbonate can be taken to further rapidly address the issue of excessive acid production, providing immediate and effective relief. If nocturnal acid breakthrough occurs frequently, oral medications like famotidine or ranitidine can be considered.