Treating heartburn vs. treating indigestion
Heartburn and indigestion can both be treated at home in most cases. Treatments might overlap, especially because indigestion sometimes features heartburn, but there are some differences.
Heartburn is often tackled using antacids [6], which are over-the-counter drugs taken to neutralize stomach acid in mild cases of heartburn. Doctors recommend not taking antacids often because they can end up doing more harm than good to your gastrointestinal tract. Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and histamine-H2-receptor antagonists (H2 blockers) are often recommended for lowering stomach acid in long-term cases of heartburn or GERD. PPIs are more effective than H2 blockers.
For indigestion, heartburn medications like antacids may be recommended if indigestion presents with heartburn. Doctors may recommend dietary modification [7] to see if it helps alleviate your symptoms or antibiotic treatment if it is caused by a bacterial infection, such as with H. pylori. Since indigestion has a wider range of causes than heartburn, treatments will often try to deal with the underlying cause first. This can take several dimensions.