• Heartburn Awareness Month
  • Home
  • About NHBA
  • Learn About Your Burn
  • Expert Advice
  • Self Care Tips
  • Food for Thought
  • Educational Materials
  • Tools
  • Heartburn in the News
  • FAQs

Welcome to the Question Corner, a place where you can find answers to your most burning questions. Click here to submit a question to a NHBA Board member. Board members will address the most frequently asked question monthly. In the meantime, please visit the FAQ portion of the Web site to see if there is an answer to your inquiry.


QUESTION:

Are there questions I should ask my health care professional about the medication he or she recommends?



ANSWER:

The following are questions to ask your health care professional:

  • What is the name of the heartburn medication you are recommending and what is the active ingredient?
  • Do my symptoms indicate I have episodic, frequent or severe heartburn?
  • How does OTC medication compare in cost to prescription medication to treat heartburn?
  • How and when should I take this medication?
  • For how long should I take this medication?
  • What should I do if my heartburn comes back or my symptoms are not relieved while taking this medication?
  • What are the most frequent side effects with this medication?
  • Could this medication interact with other medications I am taking?
  • What should I do if I miss a dose?
  • Is there any other information about this medication of which I should be aware?



This month's question is answered by Dr. Tim Covington, Pharm.D., president and CEO of Covington Healthcare Associates, LLC, as well as chairman of the National Heartburn Alliance. Dr. Covington is a nationally-recognized scholar and lecturer and has given more than 300 talks on a variety of pharmacological topics. He has written more than 160 professional and scientific articles in nationally-circulated journals and newsletters. In addition, he has authored six books and contributed to nine others. Dr. Covington is recognized as a preeminent scholar and practitioner in the realm of consumer self-care with nonprescription (OTC) drug therapy and nutraceuticals. Dr. Covington has served as a consultant on nonprescription drug therapy to various U.S. consumer products and pharmaceutical companies. Previously, Dr. Covington has chaired pharmacy practice departments at the University of Oklahoma, the West Virginia University Medical Center and Samford University, as well as served as executive director of the McWhorter School of Pharmacy's Managed Care Institute.