How to Adminster Betaine Hydrochloride

Betaine hydrochloride, commonly called hydrochloric acid, is the digestive juice found in the stomach. A lot of attention has been brought lately on a condition called acid reflux disease, or GERD, in which the stomach overproduces acid and eventually injures the esophagus. Doctors will many times prescribe an acid pump inhibitor without performing any definitive tests. This is unfortunate, because a number of the symptoms associated with acid overproduction are the same as symptoms of low acid. When pump inhibitors are prescribed, this can make a bad situation worse.

Instructions

1

Request that your health care provider test for both high and low acid production if you experience symptoms like burning or heaviness in the chest or stomach, excess gas, constipation and other indicators usually diagnosed as acid reflux. If you are diagnosed as having low hydrochloric acid production, or if you cannot find a physician to administer the test, follow the steps below.

2

Purchase a high quality betaine hydrochloride (HCL) product from a reputable retailer.

3

Take one tablet at the beginning of a meal. Do not take this supplement on an empty stomach unless you are immediately going to begin eating because you may experience burning. After all, this capsule is the same as your own stomach acid. If you do not have any adverse effects (increased burning) with this dose during and after your meal, go to the next step. If you do experience burning, even after eating, your original symptoms were probably the result of acid overproduction, and you should begin treatment for that condition instead.

4

Take two tablets at the beginning of the next meal, if you tolerated the one tablet well. If your heartburn is worse with two tablets, your dosage will be just one tablet with each meal. If you tolerate the two tablets well, move on to the next step.

5

Take three tablets at the beginning of the next meal. Again, if this dosage causes burning in your stomach, go back to the lower dosage and stay there. If you tolerate three tablets, then this is the amount you should take with each meal. The vast majority of people will not need any more than this.