What is the Difference Between Rolaids and Tums?

Rolaids and Tums are both over-the-counter antacids used to treat heartburn and related symptoms. The primary difference between these two medications is their active ingredients:

Rolaids: This medication contains a combination of calcium carbonate and magnesium hydroxide. Calcium carbonate helps move acid into the stomach, while magnesium hydroxide neutralizes the acid and can also work as a laxative, causing diarrhea.
Tums: This medication contains only calcium carbonate as its active ingredient. Calcium carbonate neutralizes and reduces acid levels in the stomach.

Both Rolaids and Tums are available in various formulations, such as chewable tablets, sugar-free versions, and other flavors like peppermint, berries, orange, and cherry. However, Rolaids also offers extra, ultra, and advanced strength formulations, which Tums does not provide.

Both medications have potential side effects, so it is essential to monitor yourself or a loved one closely while using either product. Common side effects associated with Rolaids include long-term side effects, while Tums is associated with gas and constipation. Gastroenterologists generally do not prescribe calcium carbonate-containing antacids like Tums due to the phenomenon called acid rebound, which stimulates gastrin release and leads to an overproduction of acid after the direct acid-neutralizing effects are exhausted. However, this concern has not been shown to be clinically significant.