I had it for several years, too. Zantac was my friend.
Came to find out that it was a side effect of the Zocor that I'd been taking for the last 10 yrs (some of the time in the beginning was another statin drug for cholesterol).
A little about Zocor.....Started on statins about 3 yrs before I retired from the Marines. About a yr before I retired I started having a lot of joint pain in my ankles after I'd run my daily 5 miles. Docs took X-rays, said I had ossification in both ankles probably from a prior bad sprain in each one (basketball, racquetball) and that's just how it was, given that I was in my 40's and all. Made it hard to maintain my wt, so I retired rather than go over my max wt limit (5' 9", 185 lbs)...I wan't gonna EVER be one of those guys who "Do as I say, NOT as I do".
Since retirement from the service, my ankles have given me a lot of problems. If I'd spend any time at all on my feet (mowing lawn, IPSC match, extended shopping sortie) I'd be maxing-out on Naproxin and Tylenol in order to get to sleep. Our home always had the aroma of Icy Hot. I considered my hot tub the best money I'd ever spent.
Acid reflux started about 3 yrs ago. Used antacids, changed my diet, then started on Zantac.
Recently I had a bout of "unexplained rashes", which I found out were one of the side effects of Zocor. Stopped taking the Zocor, and the rashes disappeared. SO DID ALL OF MY ANKLE PAIN!!!!! And so did the acid reflux!
It's as if I suddenly got a whole new life!
I'll continue taking my daily aspirin and supplements like garlic oil, fish oil, and timed release niacin for the cholesterol and see what my doctor thinks, but I'm done with Zocor/Zantac. Miracle drugs, my hinder...do a search on the web and read up on all of the side effects that folks have experienced.
I have also found out that an amino acid, L-Arginine and a hormone, DHEA are supposed to help prevent acid reflux. This info was from an acquaintence who take both on his Dr's advice after surgery for a hiatal hernia. Both of these supplements are available at GNC, etc.