Best Medication For Stomach Ulcers

Supplements For Stomach Ulcers

Taking certain supplements can be helpful to help manage the symptoms of a stomach ulcer. Unlike the most common traditional stomach ulcer treatments that can come with unwanted side effects, natural treatments are generally more gentle and come with less side effects. Some of the most important supplements you can take for a stomach ulcer include:

• Deglycyrrhizinated licorice. DGL may help the stomach produce more mucus, providing a layer of protection for the ulcer. It is available in different forms, including chewable tablets, capsules, and liquid supplements.
• Mastic gum. Mastic gum is harvested as the resin of a tree, and has been used for many years to aid in digestion. Mastic gum is most commonly used in tablet or capsule form.
• Probiotics. A probiotic supplement can be very helpful in balancing the gut microbiome. Various strains of certain types of bacteria can be used to treat certain health conditions. Taking a good quality probiotic that addresses your specific needs can help the body replenish its good bacteria.

What Tests Will Be Done To Diagnose A Peptic Ulcer

Endoscopy. An upper endoscopy exam is expedient because allows healthcare providers to see inside your digestive tract and also take a tissue sample to analyze in the lab. The test is done by passing a thin tube with a tiny camera attached down your throat and into your stomach and duodenum. Youll have medication to numb your throat and help you relax during the test. Your healthcare provider may use the endoscope to take a tissue sample to test for signs of mucous damage, anemia, H. pylori infection or malignancy. If they take a sample, you wont feel it.

Imaging tests. Imaging tests to look inside the stomach and small intestine include:

• Upper GI series. An upper GI X-ray exam examines the stomach and duodenum through X-rays. Its less invasive than an endoscopy. For the X-ray, youll swallow a chalky fluid called barium, which will coat your esophagus, stomach and duodenum. The barium helps your digestive organs show up better in black and white images.
• CT scan. Your healthcare provider might recommend a CT scan if they need to see your organs in more detail. A CT scan can show complications such as a perforation in the stomach or intestinal wall. For the test, youll lie on a table inside a scanner machine while X-rays are taken. You may drink or have an injection with contrast fluid to make your organs show up better in images.

Tests for H. pylori. Your healthcare provider might want to test you separately for H. pylori infection. Tests may include:

What Are The Risks For People With Ulcers

Why do painkillers increase the risk of gastrointestinal problems? The same chemicals that amplify pain — which some pain medicines block — also help maintain the protective lining of the stomach and intestines. When a painkiller stops these chemicals from working, the digestive tract becomes more vulnerable to damage from gastric acids.

For people with ulcers, the risky pain relievers are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs. They include aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen sodium, and ketoprofen, the active ingredients in medicines such as Bufferin, Advil, and Aleve.

Other pain relievers may be less dangerous. Acetaminophen — the active ingredient in Tylenol — works differently and poses a much lower risk of GI problems. However, like any drug, it does have side effects of its own. You shouldn’t take any over-the-counter painkiller for more than 10 days without your health care provider’s approval.

The risks from NSAIDs are quite serious. Studies show that people who use NSAIDs are about three times as likely to have gastrointestinal bleeding. Even at low doses, NSAIDs can make mild ulcers much worse.

Aspirin has additional risks. “Aspirin can help prevent blood clotting, which is why it helps people at risk of heart attacks and strokes,” says Cryer. “But in people with ulcers, it can lead to more serious gastrointestinal bleeding.”

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How Do You Treat A Stomach Ulcer

Edited by: Laura Burgess

A peptic ulcer is a break or sore in the lining of the stomachor the first part of the small intestine . Gastric ulcers occur on the inside of the stomach. Many people with a peptic ulcer will not exhibit symptoms and they are discovered incidentally during an endoscopy examination of the stomach. Expert gastroenterologist Dr David Neal explains the signs of a peptic ulcer and how it is treated

What Are The Symptoms Of A Peptic Ulcer Does It Cause Pain

Ulcers do not always cause symptoms. Sometimes, a serious complication such as bleeding or a sudden, bad upper abdominal pain is the first sign of an ulcer.

The most common symptom of peptic ulcers is abdominal pain.

• The pain is usually in the upper middle part of the abdomen, above the belly button and below the breastbone.
• The ulcer pain can feel like burning, or gnawing, and it may go through to the back.
• Pain often comes several hours after a meal when the stomach is empty.
• The pain is often worse at night and early morning.
• It can last anywhere from a few minutes to several hours.
• The ulcer pain may be relieved by food, antacids, or vomiting.

Other symptoms of peptic ulcers include the following:

• Nausea
• Loss of appetite
• Loss of weight

Severe ulcers may cause bleeding in the stomach or duodenum. Bleeding is sometimes the only symptom of an ulcer. This bleeding can be fast or slow. Fast bleeding reveals itself in one of the following ways:

• Vomiting of blood or dark material that looks something like coffee grounds: This is an emergency and warrants an immediate visit to an emergency department.
• Blood in the stool or black, tarry, sticky-looking stools

Slow bleeding is often more difficult to detect, because it has no dramatic symptoms.

• The usual result is low blood cell count .
• The symptoms of anemia are tiredness , lack of energy , weakness, rapid heartbeat , and pale skin .

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Cabbage Juice For Ulcer

Ingredients: Cabbage 200 g.

Method: Take 200 g of cabbage, boil it with 300 ml of water. Remove the alchemy when reduce to 200 ml.

Allow to cool and drink in the morning on an empty stomach 1 hour before breakfast.

Same process in the evening 1 hour before dinner. Do regularly twice daily and up to 4 to 6 weeks to get excellent condition.

Since it contains anti-oxidants, anti-biotics and vitamin C properties, which heal to faster stomach ulcers.

You can drink 150 ml of raw cabbage juice morning and evening instead of cooking.

Advice: Do not consume any types of spices and alcohol. To prevent constipation, eat only boil foods.

What Is The Best Home Remedy For An Ulcer

An ulcer needs time to heal, so the best home remedies help guard the stomach against unnecessary irritation and work to lower stomach acid. Here are some examples:

• Avoid foods that increase stomach acid such as dairy, coffee, and soft drinks
• Avoid foods that irritate or damage the stomach such as alcohol, spicy foods, and fatty foods
• Eat small meals throughout the day
• Smoking also increases stomach acid, so stop smoking
• Avoid NSAIDs for pain if youre at risk of getting an ulcer. They reduce prostaglandins that protect the stomach lining from stomach acids. Use acetaminophen instead
• Stress and nervousness may increase stomach acid, so manage stress with relaxation exercises, stretching, yoga, and other stress management techniques

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Lifestyle Measures To Help Treat A Peptic Ulcer

Treating a peptic ulcer should include an assessment of risk factors for the ulcer. If someone is on regular aspirin or NSAIDs the need for continued treatment with these drugs should be reviewed. Your doctor may recommend reducing the dose or stopping these drugs.Stopping smoking and reducing alcohol will be relevant for some. As is a change in diet, eating plenty of vitamin-rich foods such as fruit and vegetables and fat-free or low-fat dairy foods. Eating foods containing whole grains with lean meats also helps. It is recommended to cut back on caffeine, alcohol, spicy foods and highly fatty meats such as sausage, salami and bacon.Stress can make the symptoms of an ulcer worse. Measures to reduce stress should be undertaken.

How Else To Control Inflammation

Medications are not the only solution to control inflammation and discomfort. As we become increasingly aware of and sensitive to the possible side-effects of any medication, more patients and healthcare providers alike are interested in non-pharmacologic methods to control inflammation.

There are many ways that people address inflammation. Some have better scientific support than others, but most all are safe to try.

A good place to start is with R.I.C.E. treatment of inflammation, which stands for rest, ice, compression, and elevation. Other treatments that may be helpful include the foods and supplements you ingest, topical treatments to the painful area, and the activities we perform.

An often neglected method to control inflammation is rest. Not only does this mean resting from athletics, but often this means allowing an injured body part to rest from normal activities which may prolong inflammation.

Busy lives may not allow for rest, but ignoring the signs of inflammation may prolong the problem. Therefore, look for ways to rest your injured body part to allow the inflammation to subside and the recovery process to unfold.

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What Are The Best Foods To Eat With A Stomach Ulcer

Stomach ulcers, also known as gastric ulcers, are fairly common. The majority of people with stomach ulcers do not experience any symptoms, but some may experience pain, nausea, diarrhoea, or bloating.

Current research into stomach ulcer diets is based on evidence that suggests that Helicobacter pylori infection plays a role in the formation of stomach ulcers.

Stomach ulcers usually require a combination of medications, including antibiotics. However, there is growing evidence to suggest that eating certain foods can also help get rid of stomach ulcers or, at least, reduce the symptoms they cause.

Keep reading to learn more about the best diet for stomach ulcers, including which foods to eat and avoid.

As well as taking any prescription medications, a person could try including the following food types in their diet:

How Is A Stomach Ulcer Diagnosed

To help diagnose a stomach ulcer, your doctor will ask you what medications you take or have been taking, and if you have had a peptic ulcer or any other relevant condition in the past. Make sure you mention all the medications you are taking, especially NSAIDs such as aspirin, ibuprofen, diclofenac, or ketorolac.

Your doctor will also conduct a physical examination, to check for bloating or lumps within your abdomen, and to listen for bowel sounds. Make sure you mention any areas of pain or tenderness.

Blood may also be taken to test for infection or anemia and testing may also be conducted for Helicobacter pylori, a bacteria commonly associated with stomach ulcers. Testing usually involves either a breath test, stool sample, or biopsy. To get a clear picture of the inside of your stomach and small intestines, doctors may use an endoscope , a series of X-rays and/or a CT scan.

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Top 8 Fruits That Work Best For Ulcer

Stomach ulcers are caused by too much stomach acid that cause sores in your stomach lining, and you may not believe it, but there are fruits that can help. Gastric ulcer disease or peptic ulcer disease is often caused by the bacteria, Helicobacter pylori. They can also be due to use of anti-inflammatory medications, aspirin use, and pain medications. Smoking, eating spicy/greasy foods, and alcohol can also contribute to ulcers. Doctors usually treat it with lifestyle changes, antibiotics, and acid reducing medications. Emphasis will be placed on dietary changes until your stomach heals. This article focuses on things you can do and eat to help speed healing up and feel better quickly.

How Do Doctors Treat An Nsaid

If NSAIDs are causing your peptic ulcer and you dont have an H. pylori infection, your doctor may tell you to

• stop taking the NSAID
• reduce how much of the NSAID you take
• switch to another medicine that wont cause a peptic ulcer

Your doctor may also prescribe medicines to reduce stomach acid and coat and protect your peptic ulcer. Proton pump inhibitors , histamine receptor blockers, and protectants can help relieve pain and help your ulcer heal.

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What Natural Home Remedies Help Peptic Ulcer Pain

Home care for peptic ulcers often centers on neutralizing the stomach acid.

• Dont smoke, and avoid coffee and alcohol. These habits increase gastric acid production and weaken the mucosal barrier of the GI tract promoting ulcer formation and slowing ulcer healing.
• Dont take aspirin or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications. Acetaminophen is a good substitute for some conditions. If acetaminophen doesnt help, talk to your health-care professional about alternatives.
• If your symptoms are mild, try an over-the-counter antacid or nonprescription histamine blocker to neutralize stomach acid. Usually stronger prescription medications are needed.

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Is There A Peptic Ulcer Diet Plan

No particular diet is helpful for people with peptic ulcers. At one time, a bland diet and avoidance of spicy or greasy foods was recommended. Milk and dairy food have been used in the past for ulcer symptoms, but have not been proven to be effective. We now know diet has little effect on ulcers. In some people, however, certain foods seem to aggravate stomach ulcer symptoms. Keep a food diary with your intake and the resulting symptoms and avoid eating any foods that aggravate symptoms.

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Advice On Taking Nsaids

If your stomach ulcer has been caused by taking NSAIDs, your GP will want to review your use of them.

You may be advised to use an alternative painkiller not associated with stomach ulcers, such as paracetamol.

Sometimes an alternative type of NSAID that’s less likely to cause stomach ulcers, called a COX-2 inhibitor, may be recommended.

If you’re taking low-dose aspirin to reduce your risk of embolism , your GP will tell you whether you need to continue taking it.

If you do need to keep taking it, long-term treatment with a PPI or H2-receptor antagonist may be prescribed alongside the aspirin to try to prevent further ulcers.

It’s important to understand the potential risks associated with continued NSAID use.

You’re more likely to develop another stomach ulcer and could experience a serious complication, such as internal bleeding.

Page last reviewed: 14 January 2022 Next review due: 14 January 2025

What Tests Are There For A Stomach Ulcer

If your doctor thinks you may have a stomach ulcer, the initial tests will include some blood tests. These tests will help to check whether you have become anaemic because of any bleeding from the ulcer. The blood test will also check to see that your liver and pancreas are working properly.

The main tests that are then used to diagnose a stomach ulcer are as follows:

• A test to detect the H. pylori germ is usually done if you have a stomach ulcer. The H. pylori bacterium can be detected in a sample of stool , or in a ‘breath test’, or from a blood test, or from a biopsy sample taken during a gastroscopy. See the separate leaflet called Helicobacter Pylori for more details.
• Gastroscopy is the test that can confirm a stomach ulcer. Gastroscopy is usually done as an outpatient ‘day case’. You may be given a sedative to help you to relax. In this test, a doctor looks inside your stomach by passing a thin, flexible telescope down your gullet . The doctor will then be able to see any inflammation or ulcers in your stomach.
• Small samples are usually taken of the tissue in and around the ulcer during gastroscopy. These are sent to the laboratory to be looked at under the microscope. This is important because some ulcers are caused by stomach cancer. However, most stomach ulcers are not caused by cancer.

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Stomach Cancer And Other Conditions Associated With H Pylori

H pylori is strongly associated with certain cancers. Some studies have also linked it to a number of non-gastrointestinal illnesses, although the evidence is inconsistent.

Stomach Cancers

Stomach cancer, also called gastric cancer, is the third leading cause of cancer death worldwide. In developing countries, where the rate of H pylori is very high, the risk of stomach cancer is six times higher than in the United States. Evidence now suggests that H pylori may be as carcinogenic to the stomach as cigarette smoke is to the lungs.

Infection with H pylori promotes a precancerous condition called atrophic gastritis. The process most likely starts in childhood. It may lead to cancer through the following steps:

• The stomach becomes chronically inflamed and loses patches of glands that secrete protein and acid.
• New cells replace destroyed cells. But the new cells do not produce enough acid to protect against carcinogens.
• Over time, cancer cells may develop and multiply in the stomach.

Although the evidence is mixed, some research suggests that early elimination of H pylori may reduce the risk of stomach cancer to that of the general population. It is important to follow patients after treatment for a long period of time.

Other Diseases

H pylori also is weakly associated with other non-intestinal disorders, including migraine headache, Raynaud disease , and skin disorders such as chronic hives.