Bed Wedge, Adjusta Wedge or Side Reliever?
Written by Nadim Assaf, registered pharmacist, Connect Mobility in Picton
All three lift your upper body in bed. They just do it in different ways. Let's look at which one fits the way you sleep.
Why sleep raised
Most people who ask us about wedges have reflux. Heartburn gets worse lying flat, because there's nothing stopping stomach acid from flowing back up.
The NHS suggests raising the head of the bed by about 10 to 20 cm, so your chest and head sit above your waist. The American College of Gastroenterology also suggests raising the head of the bed for night-time reflux.
People also sleep raised to breathe more easily, to snore less, and while recovering from some operations.
Why not just pillows?
Stacking pillows seems like the easy fix. The NHS warns against it. Pillows lift your head and shoulders, but you bend at the waist. That puts more pressure on your stomach and can make reflux worse.
A wedge gives you a straight slope from the hips up. Your whole upper body rises together.
The quick answer
How they compare
Contoured Bed Wedge
This is the simplest of the three. It's a foam wedge 71 cm long that raises you from the hips at a slope of 10 to 15 degrees. That's the kind of lift reflux advice describes.
It has removable layers, so you can set the height at 17, 19, 23 or 25 cm. Start low and go up if you still get heartburn. The top layer is memory foam, and the front edge is scalloped so your shoulders sit comfortably.
It's made for sleeping on your back. At $255, it's also the cheapest of the three.
Adjusta Wedge
The Adjusta Wedge comes in two foam pieces that you arrange to suit. You can set it anywhere from a gentle 15 degrees for sleeping to 75 degrees for sitting up.
That makes it good if you spend time in bed reading, watching TV or eating. It suits people recovering from surgery, or anyone who needs to change position through the day.
TheraMed says it's not suited to side sleepers. It's built for lying on your back.
Side Reliever
The Side Reliever is the one for side sleepers. It's a large contoured support that raises your upper body while you lie on your side. A dip along one edge lets your arm and shoulder sink in, taking pressure off your shoulder and ribs.
TheraMed designed it for late pregnancy and for reflux in side sleepers. Its shape also helps stop you rolling onto your back. That matters in pregnancy, when the advice is to go to sleep on your side from 28 weeks.
It's big. At 118 x 70 cm, it takes up most of a single bed, and some owners say it's larger than they expected. Measure your bed before you order.
Side sleeping and reflux
Healthdirect suggests raising the head of your bed and sleeping on your left side. Studies suggest the left side keeps less acid in the food pipe than the right. The difference is modest, but it adds to the effect of the slope.
If you're a side sleeper with reflux, the Side Reliever lets you do both. The two back-sleeping wedges don't.
What owners say
Reviews for all three are strong on TheraMed's own site. People mention less reflux and better sleep. One Side Reliever owner said it stopped their snoring and heartburn.
The complaint that comes up most is sliding down the wedge overnight. TheraMed suggests pairing a wedge with the Knee Relaxer ($149) under your knees. It holds your legs in a slightly bent position, which helps stop you slipping. It also takes pressure off your lower back.
A few people find the wedges firmer or bigger than they pictured. Give it a week before you decide.
When to see a doctor
A wedge helps with symptoms. It doesn't treat the cause. See your GP if you have reflux most nights, trouble swallowing, or you're losing weight without trying.
If you have heart failure and find you need more and more pillows to breathe at night, tell your doctor or heart nurse. That can be a sign your heart failure is getting worse.
Looking after them
Don't wash or soak the foam. Spot clean it with a damp cloth.
The quilted covers are hand wash only, then line dry. The green Steri-Plus covers are water resistant and wipe clean, which suits anyone who spills or has accidents.
Rather tilt the bed?
If you'd rather not sleep on a wedge at all, an adjustable bed raises the head end at the press of a button. It costs more, but there's nothing to slide off. Our adjustable bed guide explains the options and funding.
Side by side
| Contoured Bed Wedge | Adjusta Wedge | Side Reliever | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Our price | $255 | $425 | $425 |
| Sleep position | Back | Back, or sitting up | Side |
| Size | 71 x 69 cm | 65 x 52 cm | 118 x 70 cm |
| Height or angle | 17 to 25 cm, 10 to 15° | 15 to 75° | 4 to 29 cm |
| Adjustable | Removable layers | Two pieces | No |
| Foam | Foam with memory foam top | Traditional foam | Foam with memory foam layer |
| Covers | Quilted or Steri-Plus, with cotton overslip | Quilted or Steri-Plus | Quilted |
Specs are from TheraMed. All three are made in Australia and carry TheraMed's 12-month warranty against faults.
Questions we get
How high should I go?
The NHS suggests raising the head of the bed by 10 to 20 cm. Start at the lowest setting that eases your symptoms.
Can I use one while pregnant?
Yes. The Side Reliever was designed with late pregnancy in mind. For more side sleeping options, see our body pillow guide.
Can I raise my legs as well?
Yes. Adding a leg support takes pressure off your back and can ease swollen ankles. Our leg support guide compares them.
Talk it through first
Tell Nadim how you sleep and what's keeping you awake. He'll point you to the right wedge, and tell you if you need to see your GP first. Call 1300 216 888.
Where our facts come from
- TheraMed product pages and body wedges flyer (sizes, angles, layers, care, warranty, reviews)
- NHS, heartburn and acid reflux (10 to 20 cm, avoid stacking pillows)
- American College of Gastroenterology, GERD guideline 2022 (raising the head of the bed)
- Healthdirect, reflux (raise the head of the bed, left side)
- World Journal of Clinical Cases, left side sleeping meta-analysis 2023 (acid exposure)
- Heart Failure Matters, needing more pillows (warning sign)
- Stillbirth CRE, side sleeping in pregnancy (from 28 weeks)
- Feefo owner reviews (sliding, size)
Checked September 2026.