People with frequent heartburn will soon have two choices of stomach-soothing medicines called proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) without a prescription.  The Food and Drug Administration this week approved over-the-counter sales of Prevacid.

The good news: Competition from Prevacid could lead to lower prices of both the OTCs. But before you opt for either one, you should know that many people with heartburn don't need these drugs.  If you only get heartburn occasionally, dietary and lifestyle changes, including eating smaller meals, weight loss and avoiding alcohol, can help.  And antacids, such as Maalox, Mylanta, Rolaids and Tums or acid-reducing drugs, such as cimetidine (Tagamet), famotidine (Pepcid), nizatidine (Axid), and ranitidine (Zantac) can also provide relief.

If your heartburn occurs twice a week or more for weeks or months, you have frequent regurgitation of food into your throat or mouth, or the drugs cited above don't provide relief, you may have a condition called gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). 

GERD can damage your esophagus over time, so you should see a doctor to get an accurate diagnosis and find out if a PPI drug is appropriate.  Side effects associated with PPIs include a higher risk of pneumonia and infection from the bacteria C. difficile. Long-term use may also increase the risk of hip fractures. A recent study found that heart attack patients taking the blood-thinner Plavix may increase their risk of another heart attack if they also take a PPI.

For more information on PPIs, see our free Best Buy Drugs report.