Chewable antacids are the fastest way to neutralize stomach acid, raising your stomach’s pH in under a minute. But several other strategies, from body positioning to specific foods, can ease the burn within minutes when you don’t have antacids on hand or want to combine approaches for stronger relief.
Chewable Antacids Work in Seconds
Calcium and magnesium carbonate tablets (brands like Tums and Rennie) begin neutralizing acid within about 40 seconds of hitting your stomach. The pH climbs above the threshold where you feel burning in under two minutes, and the effect lasts roughly an hour. That makes them the single fastest option available without a prescription.
Alginate-based products (like Gaviscon) take a slightly different approach. When the liquid meets stomach acid, it forms a foamy gel that floats on top of your stomach contents like a raft, creating a physical barrier between the acid and your esophagus. This raft forms within seconds of swallowing, so the speed of relief is comparable to a traditional antacid. The advantage is that the barrier also reduces the number of reflux episodes, not just the acidity of each one.
Change Your Position Immediately
If reflux hits while you’re lying down, roll onto your left side. This isn’t folk wisdom. When you lie on your right side, your esophagus sits below the level of your stomach, essentially letting acid pool toward the opening. On your left side, gravity works in your favor: the esophagus sits above the stomach, making it harder for acid to travel upward.
Elevating your head and upper chest amplifies this effect. Propping yourself up on a wedge pillow or stacking two regular pillows under your torso (not just your head, which can kink your neck and make things worse) keeps acid where it belongs. Combining left-side positioning with upper body elevation reduces acid exposure in the esophagus more than either strategy alone.
If you’re upright, stay that way. Sitting down after a meal is fine, but avoid bending at the waist or lying flat for at least two to three hours after eating.
Baking Soda: A Kitchen-Counter Antacid
Half a teaspoon of baking soda dissolved in at least four ounces of water acts as a basic antacid. It neutralizes acid on contact, so relief comes quickly. Take it one to two hours after a meal, not on an overly full stomach.
This is a short-term fix only. Baking soda is high in sodium, so it’s not appropriate if you have high blood pressure, heart failure, kidney disease, or are on a sodium-restricted diet. Don’t use it for longer than two weeks at a stretch, and stick to occasional use rather than making it a daily habit.
Chew a Piece of Gum
Chewing gum stimulates saliva production, roughly tripling your normal flow rate. Saliva is naturally slightly alkaline, and as you swallow it repeatedly, it washes acid back down from the esophagus and dilutes what’s left. Studies show gum chewing raises salivary pH to around 7.4 (neutral is 7.0), which helps buffer residual acid in the esophagus. Sugar-free gum works fine. Avoid mint-flavored varieties, though, since peppermint can relax the valve at the top of your stomach and potentially make reflux worse.
Stop Feeding the Fire
If you’re mid-meal when reflux starts, what you stop eating matters as much as what you take for relief. Certain foods relax the muscular valve between your esophagus and stomach, letting acid escape upward. The biggest offenders, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine, include fried and fatty foods, chocolate, peppermint, citrus fruits, tomato-based sauces, and carbonated drinks. Spicy foods with black pepper, cayenne, or chili powder also trigger symptoms in many people.
Fatty foods are especially problematic because they slow digestion, keeping food in your stomach longer and increasing the window for reflux. If you’re looking for something to eat that won’t aggravate things, plain crackers or a banana are safe bets. Whole milk is not: the fat content can worsen symptoms despite the temporary cooling sensation.
Ginger for Sluggish Digestion
When reflux is tied to food sitting too long in your stomach (that heavy, overly full sensation), ginger may help. Clinical studies in patients with indigestion found that 1.2 grams of ginger powder significantly sped up stomach emptying compared to a placebo. Faster emptying means less pressure pushing contents upward. A small cup of ginger tea or a few thin slices of fresh ginger steeped in hot water is the most practical way to try this. The evidence is mixed in healthy adults without digestive symptoms, so this works best when slow digestion is part of your problem.
H2 Blockers vs. Antacids for Speed
If reflux is a recurring problem and you want something longer-lasting than antacids, H2 blockers like famotidine (Pepcid) are available over the counter. They work differently: instead of neutralizing existing acid, they reduce how much acid your stomach produces. Relief takes longer to kick in (usually 30 to 60 minutes), but the effect lasts 8 to 12 hours compared to roughly an hour for chewable antacids.
Proton pump inhibitors like omeprazole (Prilosec) are even longer-lasting but are not designed for immediate relief. They take one to four days of daily use to reach full effect. If you need fast relief right now, an antacid is better. If you need lasting relief through the night, famotidine is the stronger choice. Some combination products pair an antacid with famotidine to cover both the immediate and extended window.
Combining Strategies for the Fastest Relief
These approaches aren’t mutually exclusive, and stacking them is often more effective than relying on one. A practical sequence when reflux flares: take a chewable antacid or alginate product for immediate acid neutralization, then shift to a left-side or elevated position if you’re resting. Chew a piece of sugar-free gum to keep saliva flowing. Avoid any trigger foods for the next few hours, and don’t lie flat for at least two to three hours after your last meal. If nighttime reflux is a pattern, take an H2 blocker about 30 minutes before bed in addition to elevating the head of your bed.