I think Zantac works fine. There are times when I have to take it 3 times a day. And there are other days when I only need it at bedtime (my Rx is to take Protonix in the AM and Zantac 75 at bedtime...BTW...I don't think the PPI works at all for me and neither does elimination diet as I experience LPR before I even eat in the morning.)
But if I'm having horrible symptoms, I can take it and feel better within about 20-30 minutes.
And you can get the generic version of it at Target, WalMart, etc for a LOT cheaper than the brand. They just call it "acid reducer" but the active ingredient is the same: ranitidine.

Hamilton,

It sounds like LPR if you are having throat symptoms. None of the OTC meds are known to work on LPR, so I recommend demanding a prescription.

But I'll give you my opinion on the OTC meds anyway. For frequent or chronic heartburn, Prilosec OTC is the best. However, it does not work on throat symptoms and LPR. The next best meds are the class called H-2 blockers, which include ranitidine, which is the ingredient found in Zantac and Pepcid. They work very well for occasional heartburn. Then there are the antacids like Malox and Tums and Mylanta which are basically calcium carbonate (a very basic ionic coumpound which works to counteract the aciditity of the stomach). But they only work briefly and are only good for occasional indigestion.

So what you need is a prescription PPI (proton-pump inhibitor). Since you have LPR symptoms, you will need to take the LPR dose - which is 2 maximum-strength doses per day, not 1 dose per day. Only heartburn patients get 1 dose per day. With throat, you need something stronger.
Now there are 2 PPIs which get the best results for LPR - and they are Nexium and Aciphex. In addition, there are Prilosec (BRand), Protonix and Prevacid, but those 3 don't seem to work as well for LPR.

To buy Nexium and Aciphex in the US, it's really expensive. For 1 dose a day, your monthly bill is about $250 without insurance. For 2 pills a day, it's about $500.

If you can't afford this, the pharma companies that manufacture these drugs offer drug-assistance programs, where if you make under a certain amount per year, they will help subsidize the drugs.

Since many people still won't qualify for those programs because their income is too high, I'd suggest doing a search on "international pharmacies", because it is very possible to get Nexium and Aciphex at 1/4 of the cost by ordering internationally.