Gaviscon Mechanism of Action

Gaviscon Liquid belongs to a group of medicines called "reflux suppressants", which form a protective layer on top of the stomach contents to prevent stomach add escaping from the stomach where it works into the food pipe where it hurts..
On ingestion, Gaviscon Liquid reacts with gastric acid precipitating alginic acid in the form of a viscous, frothy, colloidal gel of low specific gravity which floats on the gastric contents and physically suppresses reflux into the oesophagus. By physically preventing autodigestion, Gaviscon Liquid relieves pain and allows inflamed oesophageal tissue to recover. In severe cases, the gel itself may be refluxed into the oesophagus where it protects the inflamed mucosa thus allowing healing to take place and preventing further inflammation. Gaviscon Liquid is only active in stomach. On passing into the duodenum, the alginic acid gel is neutralised, giving a sodium alginate solution of low viscosity. There is no absorption from the alimentary tract and it is wholly excreted, so no systemic effects occur.