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Dyspepsia - pregnancy-associated - Management
Overview of management
- Take a detailed history and assess the severity of symptoms and the impact on the woman's quality of life. Rule out serious causes for the symptoms.
- Give advice on lifestyle changes, such as eating and sleeping habits, stopping smoking, and avoiding aggravating risk factors, including the use of other drugs. For many women, advice alone is sufficient.
- If symptoms are severe, or if lifestyle changes are inadequate, consider drug treatment.
- Antacids and alginates usually control symptoms effectively.
- Consider treatment with a systemic acid-suppressing drug if symptoms are severe, or if antacids and alginates do not produce an adequate response. Ranitidine or omeprazole are appropriate choices.
- Consider referral to a specialist if symptoms fail to respond to drug treatment, or there is concern about the underlying disease.
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