For a 16-week pregnant woman with dyspepsia, which option is most suitable?

For a 16-week pregnant woman with dyspepsia, which option is most suitable?

• A. Ranitidine
• B. Omeprazole
• C. Antacid
• D. Gaviscon Advance

Answer: (D)

In pregnancy, the aim is to relieve symptoms quickly with treatments that have minimal fetal exposure. Dyspepsia and heartburn are common due to hormonal relaxation of the gut and added abdominal pressure, so a option that acts locally and safely is preferred. Gaviscon Advance is an alginate-based antacid that forms a protective raft on top of the stomach contents, reducing reflux rather than relying on systemic acid suppression. This provides rapid relief with little, if any, systemic absorption, making it especially suitable during pregnancy. Ranitidine and omeprazole suppress stomach acid systemically. They’re effective for longer-term management but involve systemic exposure, which is generally not required for simple pregnancy-related dyspepsia and are not as immediately targeted as a raft-forming antacid. A general antacid could help, but the raft-forming action of Gaviscon Advance offers quicker, localized relief with a safety profile that aligns well with pregnancy.

In pregnancy, the aim is to relieve symptoms quickly with treatments that have minimal fetal exposure. Dyspepsia and heartburn are common due to hormonal relaxation of the gut and added abdominal pressure, so a option that acts locally and safely is preferred. Gaviscon Advance is an alginate-based antacid that forms a protective raft on top of the stomach contents, reducing reflux rather than relying on systemic acid suppression. This provides rapid relief with little, if any, systemic absorption, making it especially suitable during pregnancy.

Ranitidine and omeprazole suppress stomach acid systemically. They’re effective for longer-term management but involve systemic exposure, which is generally not required for simple pregnancy-related dyspepsia and are not as immediately targeted as a raft-forming antacid. A general antacid could help, but the raft-forming action of Gaviscon Advance offers quicker, localized relief with a safety profile that aligns well with pregnancy.