Your stomach contains a large amount of digestive acids used to help break down the food you eat. Acid reflux occurs when the muscle that keeps the acid inside of your stomach becomes weak and the acid leaks into your esophagus, causing irritation.

Significance

When acid reflux first begins, your doctor is likely to use over-the-counter medications to control acid production. When reflux persists and develops into a condition called gastrointestinal esophageal feflux disease, more advanced treatments are necessary to treat and prevent further irritation.

Over-the-Counter Medications

Antacids are common treatments to neutralize acid in your digestive tract and include drugs like aluminum hydroxide and mafenide acetate. Additionally, there are over-the-counter H2-receptor antagonists that reduce acid production, or proton pump inhibitors that completely block acid production.

Prescription Medications

If acid reflux symptoms persist after a few weeks, prescription proton pump inhibitors and H2-receptor antagonists are available to reduce and block stomach acid. Also, prokinetic agents are available to strengthen the esophagus and prevent future episodes of reflux.

Surgery

For severe cases of acid reflux, doctors sometimes perform surgery to reinforce the muscle that is responsible for retaining acid inside of the stomach. Another possible surgery is EndoCinch endoluminal gastroplication, which adds a barrier to prevent the leakage of acid.

The Stretta System

With the Stretta system, doctors apply to heat to the tissue in your esophagus, intentionally creating scar tissue. When the area heals, the damaged nerve endings in the scar tissue are unable to transmit pain signals to your brain, relieving the discomfort of acid reflux.

Source

Mayo Clinic: Acid Reflux and GERD Treatments

National Digestive Disease Information Clearinghouse: GERD and Reflux