Non Pharmacologic Therapies Essay

Non-Pharmacologic therapies include elevating the head of the bed at nighttime, eating smaller meals, not eating close to bedtime or before laying down, and eating less fatty and aggravating foods. The patient noted that she liked to cook big dinners so it is recommended to reduce the meal size, use less fatty foods, and move dinner time earlier in the day. Elevating the head at bedtime would also be beneficial for this patient as she mentioned that her symptoms mostly occur in the evening around bedtime.

Pharmacologic therapies include: Antacids, proton pump inhibitors (PPI), histamine type 2 receptor antagonists (H2RA), and bismuth products. Pepto-Bismol (Bismuth subsalicylate) treats heartburn, nausea, ingestion, upset stomach, and diarrhea.
The patient was advised not to take more than 15 tablets a day or take it more than 2 days a week. I instructed her to take her Lisinopril 2 hours before or 6 hours after taking the Tums. Taking more than the recommended amount or taking it with other calcium supplements may result in kidney stones or hypercalcemia. In rare instances it made cause rebound hyperacidity. The patient was made aware the Tums may cause flatulence, belching, constipation, and upset stomach. The patient was told to look for improvement in symptoms including a dissipation of the burning sensation after taking this medication. I advised the patient to contact her doctor if her symptoms do not improve or worsen after 2 weeks, if she finds that she needs to use it more than 2 times a week or take more than 10 tablets a day, if she experiences any of the following: unexplained weight loss, difficulty/pain on swallowing foods, dizziness and sweating with vomiting of blood or black tarry stools, chest pain with shortness of breath, chronic choking or wheezing, severe stomach pain, and/or continuous nausea vomiting or