Online GERD & heartburn treatment
Find fast relief and a personalised reflux plan. Consult a GP by secure video today.
How it works: your online GERD treatment in 3 steps
From video assessment to personalised reflux plan – get expert care for acid reflux without leaving home.
If you experience severe chest pain, relentless vomiting, difficulty swallowing or breathing, call 112 (EU) or your local emergency number immediately.
GERD & heartburn doctors online
Select a GP or gastroenterologist and schedule your video consultation today.
Why choose online GERD & heartburn treatment?
Learn what causes reflux, when to seek help, available medical and lifestyle therapies, plus practical next steps for lasting relief.
What causes GERD?
Common acid reflux triggers include obesity, pregnancy, smoking, hiatal hernia and certain medications (e.g., NSAIDs, calcium-channel blockers). Lifestyle factors such as large meals, late-night eating and stress can also weaken LES tone.
Risk factors extend beyond trigger foods: advancing age, high body mass index and conditions like hiatal hernia increase susceptibility. Addressing these heartburn causes through weight management and meal timing often reduces reflux frequency.
Recognising alarm signs
- Progressive difficulty swallowing (dysphagia) and painful swallowing (odynophagia)
- Unintended weight loss (> 5 % over 6–12 months)
- Persistent vomiting not explained by other causes
- Gastrointestinal bleeding (black, tarry stools or blood in vomit) (source: Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Guidelines)
If you experience any of these symptoms, seek immediate medical attention or call emergency services (112 in the EU). For persistent reflux without red flags, your doctor may recommend endoscopy to check for esophagitis, strictures or Barrett’s esophagus.
Medical treatment options
In Europe, widely used PPIs include:
- Omeprazole (Losec®, generics)
- Esomeprazole (Nexium®)
- Pantoprazole (Pantozol®, Protium®)
- Lansoprazole (Lanzor®, Zoton®)
- Rabeprazole (Pariet®)
Popular H2RAs and antacids include famotidine (Pepcid®), nizatidine, and alginate formulations like Gaviscon®. Your doctor will select the appropriate agent and dose—typically starting low (e.g., 20 mg omeprazole daily, 30–60 minutes before breakfast) and escalating only if symptoms persist.
Long-term therapy often requires step-down strategies once symptom control is achieved: this may involve switching from daily PPIs to on-demand H2RAs or alginates, combined with lifestyle modifications. Regular review ensures the lowest effective dose and minimizes potential PPI-associated risks, such as nutrient malabsorption.
Diet & lifestyle changes
Timing is equally critical: avoid lying down within 2–3 hours after eating, and consider raising the head of your bed by 10–15 cm to use gravity for acid control. Weight loss through a balanced diet and regular exercise is another key strategy, as a higher body mass index (BMI) correlates with increased gastroesophageal reflux episodes.
Additional lifestyle tips include: quitting smoking to improve LES function, limiting alcohol intake, and wearing loose-fitting clothing to avoid abdominal compression. Stress-reduction techniques—such as mindfulness, yoga, or deep-breathing exercises—can further decrease acid reflux triggers by reducing autonomic arousal.
Implementing these changes alongside your prescribed therapy enhances long-term heartburn relief and may allow gradual reduction of medication dosage once your symptoms are well-controlled.
Diagnosis & follow-up
For most patients with typical reflux and no red flags, diagnosis is based on clinical history and response to an empirical PPI trial. A lack of adequate symptom relief after 8 weeks at a standard dose suggests the need for further testing or treatment adjustment.
After your initial assessment, follow-up is essential. European guidelines recommend a first review at 4 weeks to assess response and side effects, then every 3–6 months if long-term PPI therapy continues. During these check-ins, your doctor will decide whether to step down to on-demand therapy, switch to H2-blockers, or repeat diagnostics.
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Frequently asked questions about online GERD treatment
Get clear answers on booking, what to expect, treatment options, costs, e-prescriptions, follow-up care and when to seek emergency help.
On Oladoctor, choose between: <ul> <li>Express GP consultation for €39, lasting 15 minutes</li> <li>Standard video visit with either a GP or gastroenterologist, duration 30 minutes, from €45</li> </ul>
After selecting your option, pick a convenient time slot and complete payment. You’ll then receive a secure video link — no subscriptions, just the one-time fee for your chosen consultation.
In your online visit, the doctor reviews your symptoms and medical history, discusses dietary and lifestyle factors, and screens for alarm signs (e.g., weight loss, swallowing difficulty). If needed, they’ll initiate PPI or H2-blocker therapy and may order further tests. You’ll leave with a clear diagnosis summary and next-step plan.
Most patients notice symptom reduction within 24–48 hours of starting PPIs, which inhibit gastric acid production. H2-blockers and antacids can bring relief within 30–60 minutes but are best used alongside PPIs for lasting control. Diet and lifestyle adjustments may take 1–2 weeks to fully impact reflux frequency.
Your doctor can prescribe first-line proton pump inhibitors (PPIs)—omeprazole (Losec®, generics), esomeprazole (Nexium®), pantoprazole (Pantozol®)—or H2-blockers like famotidine. They may also recommend alginate-based formulations (e.g., Gaviscon®) for rapid relief. All prescriptions are electronic and valid at your local pharmacy.
PPIs can cause headache, diarrhea, nausea and—rarely—nutrient malabsorption with long-term use. H2-blockers may lead to dizziness, constipation or fatigue. These effects are generally mild and transient. Report severe or persistent symptoms—such as pronounced abdominal pain or allergic reactions—to your doctor immediately.
After your consultation, you’ll find the e-prescription in your Oladoctor account and receive it by email. <ul> <li>Express GP consultation: the e-prescription is available immediately at the end of the 15-minute visit.</li> <li>Online consultation with a doctor: you’ll receive the e-prescription within 24 hours of your session.</li> </ul>
In most EU countries, the prescription is valid for 30 days; in Spain, 10 days. Simply present the code or PDF at your chosen pharmacy to collect your medication.
Yes. A 4-week review is recommended to assess symptom control and side effects. If you continue on PPIs, subsequent check-ins every 3–6 months help adjust doses or step down therapy. Book follow-up visits on Oladoctor as needed to maintain optimal treatment.
Seek immediate medical attention or call 112 if you experience severe chest pain, persistent vomiting, difficulty swallowing or signs of gastrointestinal bleeding (black stools, blood in vomit). These alarm signs may indicate complications requiring urgent in-person evaluation.
Coverage varies by country and plan. Most public health systems do not reimburse private telehealth visits, but some private insurers may cover part of the cost. If eligible, request an invoice to submit to your insurer.
For mild cases, avoiding triggers (citrus, caffeine, fatty foods), eating smaller meals, waiting 2–3 hours before lying down, and elevating your head in bed can significantly reduce symptoms. However, many patients still require medication for consistent relief and healing.
If symptoms persist after an 8-week PPI trial or if you have alarm signs, your doctor may refer you for upper endoscopy, 24-hour pH-impedance monitoring or esophageal manometry. These tests help diagnose esophagitis, strictures or motility disorders and guide long-term management.