Spit out the gum. If your stomach problem is gas, bloating, and diarrhea, it could be caused by sorbitol. Our stomachs can't absorb sorbitol, but the bacteria in our stomachs thrive on it. The bacteria break it down, which releases a lot of gas.
Three sticks of gum a day can have 6 grams of sorbitol, which is about the amount that can cause problem. Other sources of sorbitol include some milk of magnesia, cough syrups such as Sudafed and Dimetapp, asthma medications, antibiotics, and even some vitamins. So read your labels if you haven't found an obvious cause for your stomachche.
Think pink. One medicine very likely to help people quickly is Pepto-Bismol. It was developed to help fight cholera in the eighteenth century, but we are learning more and more about all the positive benefits that it has. It blocks inflammation, affects motility, and protects against noxious chemicals. Pepto-Bismol may also be helped for various forms of indigestion, nausea, or diarrhea. Just follow the instructions on the bottle, whether you use the liquid or the tablets.
Use antacids and acid-blockers sparingly. They work, there's no question about that, but medicines such as Tagamet, Zantac, Axid, and Pepcid AC, sometimes "cause tolerance". In other words, if you take them regularly over long periods of time, you might have to keep using them, and using more of them, to get relief.
You have two options when it comes to antacids. You can block the production of the acid by using Tagamet, Zantac, Pepcid AC, or Axid. Or you can neutraize the acid with Mylanta, Maalox, or Tums. Either way, you should consider these short-term solutions.
There are two potential problems with using antacids long-term. First, they can ake a more serious problem. It's okayto reach for these medicines for fast relief, but if you find yourself using them more and more often, go see a doctor.
Reach for the baking soda. Dissolve a teaspoon of baking soda in warm water, toast to a calmer belly, and drink up. Baking soda has been using to relieve upset sstomachs for generations, and with good reason: It works. Just don't use it every day.