Peptac liquid contains three active ingredients, sodium alginate, sodium bicarbonate and calcium carbonate. These three ingredients work together to relieve the symptoms of gastro-oesophageal reflux, such as heartburn. Gastro-oesophageal reflux is stomach acid flowing from the stomach back into the food pipe (oesophagus). Various conditions can cause reflux as a result of the pressure they exert on the stomach, for example, pregnancy and hiatus hernia. It can also occur following meals. Reflux can cause symptoms such as indigestion, acid regurgitation, or the painful burning sensation of heartburn. Over long periods of time the acid can also damage and inflame the lining of the foodpipe. This condition is known as reflux oesophagitis. The active ingredients of Peptac are not absorbed into the bloodstream. Instead they work by forming a "raft" that floats on the surface of the stomach contents, physically preventing the acid from flowing back into the foodpipe. Sodium alginate is a naturally occuring substance that is found in a particular type of seaweed. In the presence of the calcium carbonate it reacts with the acid in the stomach to form a gel. Sodium bicarbonate also reacts with the acid in the stomach to form bubbles of carbon dioxide. These bubbles are trapped by the gel and they allow the gel to float like a raft on top of the stomach contents. The raft prevents acid in the stomach from flowing back into the food pipe. This relieves the symptoms of reflux such as heartburn. In the case of reflux oesophagitis it not only relieves the symptoms, but also protects the inflamed foodpipe from the acid and allows it to heal. The raft lasts for about three to four hours on top of the stomach contents and is then broken down in the digestive system and excreted in the faeces.
