Nighttime Heartburn

Prilosec OTC: Fight Nighttime Heartburn

If you often wake up in the night with the pain of heartburn, you’re not alone. Nearly 50 million people experience nighttime heartburn at least once a week.‡ With Prilosec OTC, one pill a day blocks heartburn for 24 hours so you can get a restful night.* It works by shutting down many of the tiny pumps in your stomach that produce excess acid, which means you’re treating heartburn at the source, not reacting to the symptoms. Find out more about how Prilosec OTC works.

Why Heartburn Seems Worse at Night

There are a few reasons heartburn occurs at night, and why it often seems worse.

  • Lying down. While you’re standing, excess acid in your stomach may creep up into your esophagus, but gravity pulls it back down. When you’re lying down, excess acid stays in the esophagus longer.
  • No distractions. During the day, you’ve got work, kids and many other distractions. At night, the pain of heartburn seems more intense.
  • Not swallowing. You naturally swallow acid that starts to reflux while you’re awake, pushing it back into the stomach. You’re less likely to swallow while sleeping.
  • Less saliva. Your mouth produces more saliva during the day than at night. Saliva contains bicarbonate, which can neutralize stomach acid.
  • Reactive medications can wear off, leaving you unprotected. If you’re taking Prilosec OTC, you’re blocking heartburn before it begins so you can have a restful night.* But if you’re taking antacids or other reactive treatments, it’s possible they can wear off in the night, leaving you unprotected. Learn more about proactive vs. reactive treatments.

The Importance of Uninterrupted Sleep

Waking up with nighttime heartburn may seem like an annoying inconvenience. The truth is, nighttime heartburn could be interrupting your sleep pattern and depriving you of good sleep. And good sleep is important to your overall health. Prilosec OTC gives you 24-hour heartburn protection so you can have a restful night.* It’s the #1 doctor recommended OTC acid reducer.†

* It’s possible with Prilosec OTC. Use as directed for 14 days for treating frequent heartburn.

†  Wolters Kluwer (Acid reducer category).

‡WebMD Health News: Americans Waking Up to Nighttime Heartburn