Alginate / Antacid Combination Pregnancy: Clinical studies in more than 500 pregnant women and extensive post-marketing data indicate no malformative or foeto/neonatal toxicity - can be used during pregnancy if clinically needed. Breast-feeding: no known effect on breast-fed infants, can be used during breast-feeding. No known effect on human fertility.

Gaviscon Advance (Alginate Preparation)

Brand names: Gaviscon Advance

Gaviscon Advance is an alginate-based reflux suppressant containing sodium alginate with potassium bicarbonate, used for the symptomatic relief of gastro-oesophageal reflux, heartburn and acid regurgitation, including in pregnancy.

Auto-extracted from the source labelling — not yet independently clinician-verified. These values were distilled from the UK SPC (or the US label where noted) but have not had a clinician sign-off. Confirm against the current SmPC before prescribing.

Adult dose

Dose: 5-10 ml

Route: Oral

Frequency: After meals and at bedtime

SPC §4.2 for Gaviscon Advance Aniseed flavour Oral Suspension: adults and children 12 years and over 5-10 ml after meals and at bedtime. Children under 12 years should be given it only on medical advice - no paediatric dose is stated; verify against a children's formulary. Elderly: no dose modification required. Hepatic impairment: no dose modification necessary. If symptoms do not improve after 7 days the clinical situation should be reviewed. High sodium content: 57.85 mg sodium per 5 ml (2.9% of the WHO recommended maximum daily sodium intake per 5 ml; the maximum daily dose equates to 23.14%) - take into account in patients on a low-salt diet. Also contains 1.0 mmol (39.06 mg) potassium per 5 ml (relevant in reduced kidney function or a controlled potassium diet), 200 mg (2.0 mmol) calcium carbonate per 10 ml (care in hypercalcaemia, nephrocalcinosis and recurrent calcium-containing renal calculi), parahydroxybenzoates and 0.525 mg benzyl alcohol per 5 ml.

Dose adjustments

Renal

No dose modification stated; caution if a highly restricted salt diet is necessary (high sodium content), and the potassium content should be considered in patients with reduced kidney function.

Dose auto-extracted from UK Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC) via the eMC — not yet clinician-verified. Always confirm against the product SmPC and your local formulary before prescribing.

Contraindications

Known or suspected hypersensitivity to any of the ingredients or excipients, including methyl parahydroxybenzoate (E218) and propyl parahydroxybenzoate (E216)

Side effects

Diarrhoea (uncommon)
Nausea (uncommon)
Vomiting (uncommon)
Anaphylactic and anaphylactoid reactions (very rare)
Hypersensitivity reactions such as urticaria (very rare); respiratory effects such as bronchospasm (very rare)

Interactions

Allow a 2-hour interval between Gaviscon and other medicinal products, especially tetracyclines, fluoroquinolones, iron salts, thyroid hormones, chloroquine, bisphosphonates and estramustine

Clinical monograph

How it works

On contact with gastric acid the alginate forms a viscous gel raft that floats on the stomach contents and acts as a physical barrier, reducing reflux of acid into the oesophagus.

Prescribing in practice

Account for its sodium and potassium content in patients on restricted sodium or potassium intake, such as those with cardiac or renal impairment.
Take it after meals and at bedtime, and separate administration from other medicines, as the raft may reduce their absorption.
If symptoms persist despite treatment, reassess for underlying disease and consider acid-suppressing therapy.

Monitoring

Routine monitoring is not required; review symptom control and consider electrolyte content in those with cardiac or renal impairment.

Counselling the patient

Take it after meals and before going to bed.
Leave a gap between this and your other medicines.
See your doctor if heartburn continues despite treatment.

Evidence & guidelines

Alginate reflux suppressants have established efficacy for reflux symptoms, supported by clinical trials and reflected in current prescribing references.

Reference: NICE CG62 Dyspepsia and GORD; SPC Gaviscon Advance; Confirm identity and dosing against the manufacturer SPC (eMC) and NICE. Verify against your local formulary and current prescribing references before prescribing. The structured dose values shown have been reviewed by a clinician. Monograph status: clinician-reviewed (2026-07-04).

Curated clinical cross-links plus same-class fallbacks.

Calculators

Pathways