This depends on how severe your heartburn is. For mild cases, over-the-counter antacids, such as Tums, Pepcid AC and Mylanta are proven effective methods for preventing and easing heartburn if taken before a meal or after the burn has set in. Diet is a major culprit in heartburn, so avoiding or moderating caffeine, alcohol, spicy food and citrus intake can help prevent incidences. When I experienced slight heartburn, I'd try to offset the acid by ingesting a "base" such as milk. Eating slowly and staying hydrated are important factors, too. I found my heartburn was worse when I ate too quickly.

In moderate to severe cases (as I have definitely experienced), I'd recommend getting a prescription for a "proton pump inhibitor" (such as Prilosec, Prevacid, Nexium, etc.) from your doctor. This should be if you experience heartburn more than three times a week or are in such pain you can't eat, drink or sleep comfortably. You may not always need to have an Upper GI (gastrointestinal) x-ray to get this prescription, but your doctor may want to ensure that the heartburn isn't caused by more serious issues such as ulcers or esophageal damage. Depending on your insurance, these drugs can be relatively affordable. I am currently on the generic form of Prilosec, which prevents heartburn 24 hours a day. I used to suffer regularly, but I haven't had heartburn in months.

The over the counter medicine TUMS is what I found to be the best treatment. If you have severe heartburn you may want to get a prescription medication from a doctor. TUMS though is I believe the best over the counter treatment