In simple terms, stomach pain is a pain felt between the chest and the pelvic region. Symptoms of stomach pain include cramps, bloating, reflux, a dull ache, or sharp pain.
Stomach pains usually resolve on their own and aren’t serious. If the stomach pain is severe and chronic, then a doctor should be consulted or you may need to take medicine for stomach pain to get better relief.
Feeling uncomfortable? Try a medicine for stomach pain that works
We can feel discomfort when our bodies can’t expel excessive gas. Stomach bloating or abdominal pain is a symptom of trapped gas in the digestive system. For treating flatulence effectively, there are medicines for stomach pain.
Over-the-Counter (OTC) Medications
OTC stomach pain medications can relieve some symptoms. Simethicone (Gas-X, Mylanta) can reduce bloating and gas pain.
Antacids and acid reducers such as famotidine (Pepcid, Zantac 360) can relieve symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), acid reflux, belching, stomach fullness, and throat burning.
Stool softeners and laxatives like ducosate (Colace) and bisacodyl (Dulcolax) can relieve feelings of fullness, bloating, and discomfort caused by constipation.
Loperamide (Imodium) can help address intestinal cramping and diarrhea pain. Most OTC medicines to relieve stomach discomfort should not be taken long-term.
Symptoms coming on suddenly or lasting for a long time should be treated by a doctor or pait dard.
The treatment of ulcers, GERD, and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) like Crohn’s, ulcerative colitis, and celiac disease cannot be accomplished with short-term OTC medications.
Stomach pain symptoms are:
Flatulence (passing of gas)
Belching
Gastrointestinal discomfort
Abdominal discomfort in the upper left or right; middle; or lower left or right
Constipation
Diarrhea
Heartburn
Chest discomfort
There are multiple over-the-counter medicines for stomach pain that can be used to treat pain. These pains may occur anywhere in the body and change locations quickly. They are so painful that they are sometimes mistaken for heart attacks when they occur on the upper left side of the chest.
In the most common cases, stomach pains are caused by:
Pre-menstrual syndrome
Menstruation cramps in women
Indigestion
Gastroenteritis or stomach flu are stomach infections
Gas
Gastritis
Acidity
Constipation
Food allergies or intolerances
Food poisoning
Currently, there are many medicines for stomach pain on the market that can treat gastroparesis and stomach disorders that cause digestive system movement to increase.
When to See a Medical Provider
Seek emergency medical care if you or someone you know develops any of these symptoms along with stomach pain.
These symptoms may indicate an infection or a more serious condition:
Severe pain that comes on suddenly
Pain that lasts for an hour or comes and leaves for 24 hours
Blood in bowel movements
Black, tarry bowel movements
Diarrhea
Vomiting
Lack of appetite or inability to drink or eat
Fever of 102ºF or higher
Rapid weight loss without trying
Lack of appetite
Feeling a lump in the abdomen
Inability to pass urine or bowel movements
Chest pain
Breathing problems
Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes)
If you have stomach pain that lasts for a long time or medicine for stomach pain doesn’t work, consult a healthcare provider
What lifestyle changes can help manage indigestion?
Practice relaxation techniques, biofeedback, yoga, meditation, or pursue hobbies to control stress.
A full stomach is not a good time to exercise. Exercise at least one hour before or after meals.
For at least three hours after eating, avoid lying down.
Reduce or avoid caffeine-containing foods and drinks.
Fruits and vegetables that contain high levels of acid, such as citrus fruits and tomatoes, should be avoided.
You should avoid or at least reduce your intake of alcohol as it can irritate your stomach lining.
Alternative treatments
Natural home remedies that alleviate bloating include:
- Activated charcoal: A 2017 study Trusted Source found that people who took a mixture of activated charcoal and simethicone daily reported a significant improvement in abdominal pain and did not experience side effects. To determine whether activated charcoal is effective in treating bloating, more research is needed.
- Peppermint: Peppermint oil relaxes bowel walls and relieves:
-
- bloating
- stomach cramps
- gas
- Dietary changes: Eating more fiber and removing foods that cause bloating from a diet can alleviate bloating.
- Increasing water intake: Drinking more water may reduce or avoid constipation.
- Applying a heated pad to the stomach: A heated pad can reduce pain associated with bloating.
When to Seek Pain Medicine for Stomach Pain
It’s important to tell your healthcare provider if you have ongoing stomach pain. If they don’t treat it, you may be referred to a pain medicine specialist. You will not be treated for the cause of the pain by these doctors, but rather for the symptoms of it.
Pain medicine specialists use a multi-modal approach to abdominal pain. Treatments include:
- Injections.
- Nerve pain pills (research shows that narcotic pills don’t work for abdominal pain).
- Physical therapy to strengthen core muscles.
- Referrals for cognitive-based therapy and pain psychology.
In some cases, using the medicine for stomach pain relief can reduce the pain experienced by some people. Most people have some level of pain, but when it is reduced, they become more functional.
Conclusion
Stomach Pain is a very common problem and nearly everyone faces this disorder now and then. A few causes are responsible for the overproduction of gas. Constipation is the most common cause of occurrence of this disorder. Any disorder in the digestive system can lead to Stomach Pain. Some more reasons may cause Stomach Pain. Intake of contaminated water, high-fat diet, lactose deficiency, food containing high starch levels such as potato or corn, alcohol, smoking cigarettes, and certain n medications; any of these things can cause Stomach Pain. There are several ways to get rid of stomach pain, including taking medicine for stomach pain to relieve it.