Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsMixing Tums and AlcoholTums UsesAlcohol and HeartburnOther TriggersIndigestion ReliefFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Mixing Tums and Alcohol
Tums Uses
Alcohol and Heartburn
Other Triggers
Indigestion Relief
Frequently Asked Questions
Tums is one of the most commonly used over-the-counter (OTC) antacid medications to treat heartburn, but drinking alcohol while taking Tums can undo its positive effects.
Presently there are no studies that highlight a contraindication (reason not to take) or negative interaction between calcium carbonate and alcohol, but alcohol is a common trigger of acid reflux, so combining the two is not recommended.
This leads to a phenomenon known asacid reflux. The backflow of stomach acid into the esophagus creates a burning sensation in the chest commonly known as heartburn.
This article will review the effects of mixing alcohol and Tums, why alcohol triggers heartburn and how to get relief from indigestion.
Sally Anscombe / Getty Images
The ingredients in Tums and alcohol don’t interact negatively, but alcohol can worsen stomach acid imbalance and directly open the LES just the same.
Tums Ingredients
Tums is a relatively simple medication that contains one active ingredient—that is, one ingredient that is responsible for providing a therapeutic effect—and that is calcium carbonate. It also contains several other inactive ingredients, including:
For Heartburn
For Stomach Pain
Tums can help relieve stomach pain fromgastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD),gastritis(inflammation of the stomach’s lining),peptic ulcers(sores that result from acid eating away at the stomach’s lining), andgastrointestinal (GI) bleedingfrom acid leaking into the GI tract, especially in the organs associated with digestion such as the small intestine and pancreas.
For Hangovers
If you feel sick after drinking alcohol and your symptoms are nausea, abdominal pain, and heartburn, you may be experiencing acid reflux. Taking Tums may relieve your symptoms. Of note, taking Tums before drinking alcohol is not an effective way to prevent a hangover.
12 Best Foods for a Hangover and What to Avoid
Why Alcohol Intensifies Heartburn
This ring of muscle is usually closed unless food is passing through it. Even a temporary opening of the LES allows for acid to reflux into the lower esophagus, irritating the tissues that line your food pipe.
Why Do I Get Heartburn at Night? Causes and Treatment
Other Heartburn Triggers
Stomach acid is one of the tools that the digestive system uses to transform the raw materials of our food into the nutrients and energy we need to keep you alive, but there are certain conditions that can cause our body to produce too much gastric juice, including:
10 Things to Stop Doing If You Have GERD
Tums Dosage
Chewable tablets
If your symptoms persist for more than two weeks despite taking your regular dose of Tums, you should notify a healthcare professional.
Home Remedies
Tums is one of the most popular OTC supplements taken to relieve symptoms of heartburn and stomach pain.
Skipping Alcohol
Alcohol can trigger acid reflux even in small amounts. For some people avoiding alcohol, especially if it is a repeat offender that triggers your heartburn symptoms, is the best way to prevent future episodes.
Dining Out Choices for People With Heartburn
Summary
Tums and alcohol don’t interact negatively with one another, so, technically, it’s safe to take tums before or after drinking alcohol, but it’s not recommended because alcohol is a common trigger of acid reflux.
A Word From Verywell
Tums is one of the most popular OTC antacids used to relieve mild and moderate heartburn. Sometimes the cause of that heartburn is due to alcohol use. Just how much or what type of alcohol will trigger your acid reflux is unknown, but it’s likely that the more you have the greater your chances are of experiencing heartburn.
Remember that Tums merely alleviates your symptoms and does not address the root cause of your heartburn. Ideally, you would not drink alcohol before or after using Tums, especially if alcohol is the main trigger of your acid reflux.
Frequently Asked QuestionsTums can likely treat your heartburn symptoms after drinking, but it is important to note that taking Tums merely alleviates your symptoms and does not address the root cause of your heartburn.Ideally, you would not drink alcohol before or after taking Tums, especially if alcohol is the main trigger of your acid reflux.Yes. Tums contain calcium carbonate. Ingesting too much—over 7,500 mg— can cause a condition called hypercalcemia, which is associated with nausea and abdominal pain. Excessively high calcium levels are also toxic to the kidney and heart.Yes, Alka Seltzer, Rolaids, and Maalox are popular OTC antacids that work similarly to Tums, but have a different active main ingredient.The best way to prevent heartburn from alcohol is to avoid alcohol use, especially in the presence of other GERD risk factors like obesity and smoking.
Tums can likely treat your heartburn symptoms after drinking, but it is important to note that taking Tums merely alleviates your symptoms and does not address the root cause of your heartburn.Ideally, you would not drink alcohol before or after taking Tums, especially if alcohol is the main trigger of your acid reflux.
Tums can likely treat your heartburn symptoms after drinking, but it is important to note that taking Tums merely alleviates your symptoms and does not address the root cause of your heartburn.
Ideally, you would not drink alcohol before or after taking Tums, especially if alcohol is the main trigger of your acid reflux.
Yes. Tums contain calcium carbonate. Ingesting too much—over 7,500 mg— can cause a condition called hypercalcemia, which is associated with nausea and abdominal pain. Excessively high calcium levels are also toxic to the kidney and heart.
Yes, Alka Seltzer, Rolaids, and Maalox are popular OTC antacids that work similarly to Tums, but have a different active main ingredient.
The best way to prevent heartburn from alcohol is to avoid alcohol use, especially in the presence of other GERD risk factors like obesity and smoking.
7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.NIH.Tums.Medline Plus.Calcium carbonate.NHS.Antacids.Surdea-Blaga T, Negrutiu DE, Palage M, Dumitrascu DL.Food and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease.Curr Med Chem. 2019;26(19):3497-3511. doi:10.2174/0929867324666170515123807Waldum HL, Kleveland PM, Sørdal ØF.Helicobacter pylori and gastric acid: an intimate and reciprocal relationship.Therap Adv Gastroenterol. 2016;9(6):836-844. doi:10.1177/1756283X16663395Choi JM, Yang JI, Kang SJ, et al.Association between anxiety and depression and gastroesophageal reflux disease: results from a large cross-sectional study.J Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2018;24(4):593-602. doi:10.5056/jnm18069Medscape.Calcium Carbonate.
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.NIH.Tums.Medline Plus.Calcium carbonate.NHS.Antacids.Surdea-Blaga T, Negrutiu DE, Palage M, Dumitrascu DL.Food and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease.Curr Med Chem. 2019;26(19):3497-3511. doi:10.2174/0929867324666170515123807Waldum HL, Kleveland PM, Sørdal ØF.Helicobacter pylori and gastric acid: an intimate and reciprocal relationship.Therap Adv Gastroenterol. 2016;9(6):836-844. doi:10.1177/1756283X16663395Choi JM, Yang JI, Kang SJ, et al.Association between anxiety and depression and gastroesophageal reflux disease: results from a large cross-sectional study.J Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2018;24(4):593-602. doi:10.5056/jnm18069Medscape.Calcium Carbonate.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
NIH.Tums.Medline Plus.Calcium carbonate.NHS.Antacids.Surdea-Blaga T, Negrutiu DE, Palage M, Dumitrascu DL.Food and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease.Curr Med Chem. 2019;26(19):3497-3511. doi:10.2174/0929867324666170515123807Waldum HL, Kleveland PM, Sørdal ØF.Helicobacter pylori and gastric acid: an intimate and reciprocal relationship.Therap Adv Gastroenterol. 2016;9(6):836-844. doi:10.1177/1756283X16663395Choi JM, Yang JI, Kang SJ, et al.Association between anxiety and depression and gastroesophageal reflux disease: results from a large cross-sectional study.J Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2018;24(4):593-602. doi:10.5056/jnm18069Medscape.Calcium Carbonate.
NIH.Tums.
Medline Plus.Calcium carbonate.
NHS.Antacids.
Surdea-Blaga T, Negrutiu DE, Palage M, Dumitrascu DL.Food and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease.Curr Med Chem. 2019;26(19):3497-3511. doi:10.2174/0929867324666170515123807
Waldum HL, Kleveland PM, Sørdal ØF.Helicobacter pylori and gastric acid: an intimate and reciprocal relationship.Therap Adv Gastroenterol. 2016;9(6):836-844. doi:10.1177/1756283X16663395
Choi JM, Yang JI, Kang SJ, et al.Association between anxiety and depression and gastroesophageal reflux disease: results from a large cross-sectional study.J Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2018;24(4):593-602. doi:10.5056/jnm18069
Medscape.Calcium Carbonate.
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