Antacid Syrup: Types, Uses, Side Effects & Brands in India

Vibcare Pharma

05/10/26

Updated 5 October 2026
Reviewed by Sudhanshu Singhal
9 min read
19 sources

No ceilingAntacids are not in NLEM 2022, so there is no NPPA price cap

10%Most an MRP may rise in 12 months (DPCO 2013, para 20)

2 hoursGap from many other medicines (NHS, for Gaviscon)

13Vibcare antacid and sucralfate suspensions

Antacid syrup types at a glance

Type	Typical ingredients	How it works
Aluminium + magnesium hydroxide (often with simethicone)	aluminium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, simethicone/dimethicone	neutralises acid; simethicone eases gas
Magaldrate + simethicone	magaldrate, simethicone	neutralises acid, eases gas
Alginate (raft-forming)	sodium alginate, sodium bicarbonate, calcium carbonate	forms a floating layer that impedes reflux
With oxetacaine	antacid + oxetacaine (local anaesthetic)	antacid plus local pain relief; Mucaine is for use on a doctor's prescription

Source: US FDA antacid monograph and product labels (links under Sources).

What antacids do

An antacid is a medicine that neutralises stomach acid. The US FDA's over-the-counter monograph lists permitted actives including aluminium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, magaldrate, calcium carbonate and sodium or potassium bicarbonate, with simethicone as the antiflatulent; the labelled uses are heartburn, sour stomach and acid indigestion.

Antacids act on the acid that is already in the stomach. The NHS states clearly that they will not cure the problem behind the symptoms and should not be taken regularly for long periods. If you need them often, that is a reason to see a doctor rather than to buy another bottle.

Types of antacid syrup and what each ingredient does

Indian antacid suspensions fall into a few composition families, and each ingredient does a separate job. The descriptions below come from product labels.

Aluminium hydroxide and magnesium hydroxide

Aluminium hydroxide is an antacid that is poorly absorbed from the gut; magnesium hydroxide is quick-acting (Mucaine label). Many combination syrups add simethicone, also listed as activated dimethicone, which the Maalox Plus label describes as an antifoaming agent; the US FDA monograph lists it as the antiflatulent (anti-gas) ingredient.

Magaldrate with simethicone

Magaldrate is a permitted antacid active under the US FDA monograph. Ulgel (Alembic), for example, contains magaldrate 400 mg with simethicone 20 mg per 5 ml.

Alginate or raft-forming suspensions

Alginates such as Gaviscon use sodium alginate, sodium bicarbonate and calcium carbonate. On contact with stomach acid they form a near-neutral gel "raft" that floats on the stomach contents and impedes reflux, for up to about four hours on the label. Gaviscon Original contains 142.6 mg of sodium per 10 ml, which its label says matters on a low-salt diet.

Suspensions with oxetacaine

Prescription medicine

Oxetacaine is a local anaesthetic held in contact with the stomach lining by the suspension gel, giving local pain relief on top of the antacid action. The Mucaine label states "for the use only of Registered Medical Practitioners", so Mucaine is supplied on a doctor's prescription. Prescription medicines must be taken only as prescribed by a doctor.

How to take antacid syrup

Follow the label of the product you have, because labels differ on timing. The Maalox Plus label says 20 minutes to one hour after meals and at bedtime, the Gaviscon Original label says after meals and at bedtime, and the Mucaine label says 15 minutes before meals and at bedtime. The NHS says antacids work best with or soon after food.

About doses

Labels also state the usual adult dose. For example, one US label for aluminium hydroxide with magnesium hydroxide and simethicone states 10 to 20 ml four times a day, with no more than 80 ml in 24 hours. These are examples of what labels say, not advice for you: take the dose on your pack or the dose your doctor prescribes.

Side effects, interactions and who should be careful

The common side effects of antacid syrups come from the two main salts. Aluminium hydroxide may cause constipation, and magnesium hydroxide may cause diarrhoea.

Kidney disease

People with kidney impairment should be especially careful. In kidney impairment, magnesium and aluminium can accumulate in the body; the Maalox Plus label contraindicates use in kidney failure, severe debility and hypophosphataemia. The Gaviscon Original label advises care with high calcium levels or kidney stones and notes its sodium content. Ask a doctor before use if you have kidney disease or take any prescription drug.

Labels ask you to keep a gap between some antacids and other medicines. The NHS advises not taking Gaviscon within two hours of quinolone or tetracycline antibiotics, iron, antifungals, beta-blockers, steroids and levothyroxine among others. The Maalox Plus label says to separate other medicines by at least two hours, and by four hours for fluoroquinolone antibiotics.

When to see a doctor

See a doctor when symptoms go beyond occasional indigestion, or keep coming back.

The NHS lists these red flags: indigestion that keeps coming back, severe pain, unintentional weight loss, difficulty swallowing, being sick often, iron-deficiency anaemia, a lump in the stomach, and blood in vomit or stool. One US antacid label also advises asking a doctor if symptoms last more than two weeks.

Rules and pricing in India

Antacid syrups are not on India's National List of Essential Medicines, so they carry no NPPA ceiling price. NLEM 2022 does not list any antacid in its relevant section, which lists only the proton pump inhibitors omeprazole and pantoprazole.

Because antacid syrups are non-scheduled for pricing, the manufacturer may raise the MRP by at most 10% in 12 months under paragraph 20 of the DPCO 2013. Under Schedule K item 13(4), antacid preparations are treated as household remedies and may be sold without a licence only in villages of 1,000 people or fewer where there is no licensed dealer.

Advertising is restricted too. The Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act 1954 lists "ulcers of gastro-intestinal tract" at item 53 of its Schedule, so a product may not be advertised to the public as treating ulcers. Any product that is sold on a prescription must be taken only as prescribed by a doctor.

Antacid syrup brands in India

The antacid gels and suspensions below are listed by Indian online pharmacies; their compositions are taken from those listings and, for Mucaine, from the Pfizer India label.

Brand	Company	Composition per stated volume
Digene Gel	Abbott India	per 10 ml: aluminium hydroxide 830 mg, magnesium hydroxide 185 mg, simethicone 50 mg
Gelusil MPS	Pfizer	per 5 ml: dried aluminium hydroxide 250 mg, magnesium hydroxide 250 mg, activated dimethicone 50 mg
Mucaine Gel	Pfizer	per 5 ml: oxetacaine 10 mg, aluminium hydroxide (as dried gel 0.380 g), magnesium hydroxide 98 mg
Gaviscon liquid	Reckitt	per 5 ml: sodium alginate 250 mg, sodium bicarbonate 133.5 mg, calcium carbonate 80 mg
Ulgel / Ulgel-A	Alembic	per 5 ml: magaldrate 400 mg + simethicone 20 mg; Ulgel-A adds oxetacaine 10 mg
Polycrol Gel	Piramal	aluminium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, dimethicone (strengths not reliably listed)

Source: pharmacy listings checked on 5 October 2026 and the Pfizer India Mucaine label. This is a list of compositions, not a recommendation.

The Vibcare antacid and sucralfate range

Vibcare Pharma markets antacid suspensions in two composition families across four divisions, plus sucralfate with oxetacaine suspensions. Sucralfate is not an antacid; those suspensions are listed separately by composition only. Compositions, packs and MRPs are as stated on our product pages; check each pack for its prescription status and directions.

Dried aluminium hydroxide 250 mg + magnesium hydroxide 250 mg + simethicone 50 mg

Auspin

Gelojem SyrupAuspin · 170 ml₹91.88

Dried aluminium hydroxide 250 mg + magnesium hydroxide 250 mg + activated dimethicone 50 mg

Medanor

Gelonor SuspensionMedanor · 170 ml₹75

Dried aluminium hydroxide 250 mg + magnesium hydroxide 250 mg + activated dimethicone 50 mg + sorbitol 1.25 g

3 divisions

Gelovib MPS Suspension (WOMC)Prima · 200 ml₹147
Gelojem MPS Suspension (WOMC)Auspin · 200 ml₹147
Gelolam MPS Suspension (WOMC)Evermed · 200 ml₹147

Magaldrate 400 mg + simethicone 20 mg

3 divisions

Magovib SuspensionPrima · 170 ml₹102.19
Magojem SuspensionAuspin · 170 ml₹102.19
Magolam SuspensionEvermed · 170 ml₹79.69

Sucralfate 1 g + oxetacaine 20 mg

4 divisions

Not an antacid. Check each pack for its prescription status.
Sucovib O SuspensionPrima · 100 ml₹139
Sucojem O SuspensionAuspin · 100 ml₹139
Sucolam O SuspensionEvermed · 100 ml₹139
Sucolam O SuspensionEvermed · 200 ml₹274
Suconor O SuspensionMedanor · 100 ml₹139

Vibcare Pharma Pvt Ltd (Panchkula, Haryana; incorporated 2014) appoints PCD franchise partners district by district, one partner per district, with monopoly rights confirmed in writing. Its manufacturing company, Vibcare Healthcare, owns a WHO-GMP plant at Village Dabkori, Panchkula; the manufacturer of each product is named on its pack.

For distributors and entrepreneurs

Add antacid suspensions to your range

Vibcare appoints one PCD franchise partner per district, with monopoly rights confirmed in writing. Trade rates for every product are on its product page.

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Frequently asked questions

What is antacid syrup used for?

Antacid syrup is used for heartburn, sour stomach and acid indigestion, according to the labelled uses of antacid products. It neutralises acid that is already present in the stomach, so the relief is quick but temporary. It does not cure the problem behind the symptoms and should not be used regularly over long periods.

When should I take antacid syrup — before or after food?

It depends on the product, so follow your own label. The Maalox Plus label says 20 minutes to one hour after meals and at bedtime, while the Mucaine label says 15 minutes before meals and at bedtime. The NHS notes that antacids work best with or soon after food.

What are the side effects of antacid syrup?

Aluminium hydroxide may cause constipation and magnesium hydroxide may cause diarrhoea. In kidney impairment, aluminium and magnesium can accumulate in the body, and the Maalox Plus label says not to use it in kidney failure. Read the label and ask your doctor if you have kidney disease.

Can I take antacid syrup with other medicines?

Some labels ask for a gap between antacids and other medicines. The NHS advises not taking Gaviscon within two hours of quinolone or tetracycline antibiotics, iron, antifungals, beta-blockers, steroids, levothyroxine and others. Some labels say to separate other medicines by at least two hours, and by four hours for fluoroquinolone antibiotics.

Is antacid syrup safe in pregnancy?

Ask your doctor before taking any medicine during pregnancy, including antacid syrups. The Gaviscon label notes that the product can be used in pregnancy, with more than 500 women studied and no fetal toxicity reported. That evidence applies to that product only and is not a general statement about all antacid suspensions.

When should I see a doctor for acidity?

See a doctor if indigestion keeps coming back, if you have severe pain or difficulty swallowing, if you are vomiting often or losing weight without trying, or if there is blood in your vomit or stool. Iron-deficiency anaemia and a lump in the stomach are also reasons to get checked. One US antacid label also says to ask a doctor if symptoms last more than two weeks.

Sources

Show all 19 sources