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
How Should This Medicine Be Used
Prescription famotidine comes as a tablet and a suspension to take by mouth. It is usually taken once daily at bedtime or two to four times a day. Over-the-counter famotidine comes as a tablet, a chewable tablet, and a capsule to take by mouth. It is usually taken once or twice a day. To prevent symptoms, it is taken 15 to 60 minutes before eating foods or drinking drinks that may cause heartburn. Follow the directions on your prescription or the package label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take famotidine exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often or for a longer time than prescribed by your doctor.
Shake the liquid well for 5 to 10 seconds before each use to mix the medicine evenly.
Swallow the tablets and capsules with a full glass of water.
Thoroughly chew the chewable tablets before swallowing them. Swallow the chewed tablet with a full glass of water.
Do not take more than two tablets, capsules, or chewable tablets of over-the-counter famotidine in 24 hours and do not take over-the-counter famotidine for longer than 2 weeks unless your doctor tells you that you should. If symptoms of heartburn, acid indigestion, or sour stomach last longer than 2 weeks, stop taking over-the-counter famotidine and call your doctor.
What Should I Do If I Think I Have A Stomach Ulcer
Always seek medical care for a stomach ulcer. While you may be able to manage symptoms temporarily with over-the-counter medications, these wont heal the ulcer. You need to identify and treat the underlying cause. An untreated ulcer can lead to serious complications, even if your symptoms are mild. The major cause of stomach ulcers, H. pylori infection, can also lead to other complications.
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What To Avoid If You Have An Ulcer
If you have an ulcer, avoid NSAIDs or smoking, which can reduce the ability of the stomach lining to protect itself against stomach acid. Foods that increase stomach acid, such as dairy, coffee, and soda should be taken out of the diet. Highly acidic foods, such as tomatoes and citrus, will only make things worse. Finally, substances that irritate the stomach, such as alcohol or spicy foods, are probably not a good idea.
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Where Should I Keep My Medication
Keep out of the reach of children.
Store at room temperature between 15 and 30 degrees C . Keep container tightly closed. Throw away any unused medication after the expiration date.
NOTE: This sheet is a summary. It may not cover all possible information. If you have questions about this medicine, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or health care provider.
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What Should I Watch For While Using This Medication
It can take several days before your stomach pain gets better. Check with your care team if your condition does not start to get better, or if it gets worse.
Do not treat diarrhea with over the counter products. Contact your care team if you have diarrhea that lasts more than 2 days or if it is severe and watery.
You may need blood work done while you are taking this medication.
Using this medication for a long time may weaken your bones. The risk of bone fractures may be increased. Talk to your care team about your bone health.
Using this medication for a long time may cause growths in the stomach. They usually don’t cause any symptoms. They are usually not cancerous. Contact your care team if you notice pain or tenderness when you press your stomach, have nausea, or see bloody or black, tar-like stools.
This medication may cause a decrease in vitamin B12. You should make sure that you get enough vitamin B12 while you are taking this medication. Discuss the foods you eat and the vitamins you take with your care team.
What About Complicated Ulcers
While most ulcers are successfully treated with medication, some complicated ulcers may require surgery. Ulcers that are bleeding, or that have perforated your stomach or intestinal wall, will need to be surgically repaired. An ulcer that is malignant, or obstructing a passageway, will need to be surgically removed. In severe cases, an ulcer that keeps coming back may be treated by surgery to cut off some of the nerve supply to the stomach that produces stomach acid.
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What Is The Healing Time For A Corneal Ulcer
The time until healing depends on the cause of the ulcer and its size, location, and depth. Most appropriately treated corneal ulcers should improve within two to three weeks. Treatment may continue for longer to reduce the amount of potential scarring. Corneal ulceration is a serious condition, and with inadequate or no treatment, loss of vision and blindness may occur.
What About Diet And Stress
The idea that ulcers can be caused by taking over-the-counter pain relievers may come as a surprise to people who have long believed that diet and stress are major factors.
Dingell, a self-described junk food queen and Diet Coke addict, who typically drinks 10 to 12 bottles a day, said she anticipated being told by her doctors that she would need to make changes to her diet. But, experts said, the belief that certain foods and carbonated or acidic beverages can cause or worsen ulcers is a common misconception.
Either of those can cause abdominal pain for different reasons, Stevoff said. A lot of times, people equate their abdominal pain with having an ulcer.
Your gastrointestinal tract only has a limited amount of ways to express its displeasure, Staller said, such as nausea, vomiting, a sour stomach or indigestion, pain and bowel symptoms. It can be challenging for laypeople and doctors to determine whats causing symptoms, and its common to confuse another gastrointestinal malady, such as indigestion, with ulcers, he said. The vast majority of patients with indigestion that Staller performs endoscopies on dont have an ulcer when we look, he added.
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How To Achieve Oral Hygiene
Maintaining oral hygiene is essential to prevent mouth infection. Some of the preventive measures include:
Brushing with fluoride toothpaste twice a day for at least 2 minutes
Cleaning between your teeth or under the gum once a day with floss or an interdental cleaner
Cutting down on sugary or starchy drinks and foods right before the bed
Using an antiseptic mouth rinse to help prevent tooth decay
Visiting your dentist frequently for checkups
Regular tongue brushing or scraping
Replacing your toothbrush every three to four months or when the bristles look worn
Eating a balanced diet
Clean your dentures at bedtime
Stay away from hot and spicy food when you have sores
Quitting tobacco
Replacing ill-fitting dentures or bridges
Refraining from the habit of chewing on the inside of the cheek
Drinking enough water
How Are Duodenal Ulcers Treated
If your ulcer is caused by H pylori, the usual treatment is âtriple therapyâ. This involves taking 2 antibiotics and a medicine. The antibiotics kill the bacteria, while the medicine reduces the acid made by your stomach.
If you donât have an H. pylori infection, and you have been using anti-inflammatory drugs, you will need to stop taking them . You will also need to start taking a drug to reduce the acid production in your stomach.
You can make some other changes to improve your symptoms, such as:
- taking antacids
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What If An Ulcer Doesnt Heal Or Comes Back After Treatment
Taking medicines and treating the underlying cause heals most ulcers. However, if your ulcer doesnt heal or comes back after treatment, your doctor may
- check for and treat any factors that could be causing the ulcer, such as an H. pylori infection.
- recommend you quit smoking, if you smoke. Smoking can slow ulcer healing.
- recommend or prescribe more medicines to help heal the ulcer.
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Tips For Living With Ulcers
- If you have an ulcer, be careful when choosing over-the-counter pain relievers. Aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen can irritate an ulcer and prevent a bleeding ulcer from healing. Avoid powdered headache medication, too. It usually contains powdered aspirin. Your best choice may be acetaminophen, which doesnât cause or worsen stomach ulcers.
- Donât overdose on iron supplements. You may need them if you have bleeding ulcers, but taking too much can irritate your stomach lining and the ulcer. Ask the doctor how much iron you need.
- Learn how to manage stress. Relaxation techniques like deep breathing, guided imagery, and moderate exercise can help ease stress and promote healing.
- Avoid foods that irritate your stomach. Use common sense: If it upsets your stomach when you eat it, avoid it. Everyone is different, but spicy foods, citrus fruits, and fatty foods are common irritants.
- Stop smoking. Heavy smokers are more likely to get duodenal ulcers than nonsmokers.
- Practice moderation. Drinking lots of alcohol has been shown to contribute to ulcers, so keep your intake to a minimum.
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What Should I Avoid While Taking Sucralfate
Avoid taking any other medications within 2 hours before or after you take sucralfate. Sucralfate can make it harder for your body to absorb other medications you take by mouth.
Ask your doctor before using an antacid, and use only the type your doctor recommends. Some antacids can make it harder for sucralfate to work in your stomach. Avoid taking an antacid within 30 minutes before or after taking sucralfate.
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How And When To Use It
Always read the instructions that come with your medicine first.
Wash your hands before and after using the ointment, gel or liquid.
Ointment, gel, liquid or spray for mouth ulcers
After 3 hours you can use it again, if you need to.
Gel for teething
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Is Water Good For Ulcers
Drinking and Eating With an Ulcer
Plain water is the best choice. Meal timing might also make a difference. Some patients have reported a reduction in pain if they skip between-meal snacks, because eating less often reduces the amount of stomach acid produced throughout the day. Less stomach acid means less irritation.
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Alternative And Complementary Therapies
Certain lifestyle changes can help you recover from an ulcer.
- Watch your diet. If you know that there are specific foods that make your ulcer feel worse, avoid them until your treatment is over. For many people, these include alcohol, caffeine, fatty foods, spicy foods, and chocolate.
- Stop smoking. If you smoke, you are already at increased risk of getting an ulcer. The data also shows that ulcers take longer to heal in smokers and that the ulcer medication you are taking may be less effective. Scientists dont know exactly why smoking has these negative effects.
- Take pain medication carefully. NSAIDs, such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and many other commonly taken drugs, are taken for pain and fever, but can cause an ulcer if used too often. NSAIDs can also prevent an ulcer from healing as quickly as you would like, so talk to your doctor about what you can take for your other aches and pains while you are waiting for your ulcer to heal. Acetaminophen does not cause ulcers, so it may be an effective substitute. Also, be sure to read all drug labels some cough and cold liquids have NSAID ingredients in them, and you should avoid them, too.
- Cut back on alcohol. Stop drinking alcohol if you want to completely reduce your risk of additional ulcers and help your body heal.
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What Should I Do If I Forget A Dose
If you forget a dose of prescription famotidine, take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.
Over-the-counter famotidine is usually taken as needed. If your doctor has told you to take over-the-counter famotidine regularly, take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.
Treatment Of Peptic Ulcers
Its really important to get the right treatment if youre diagnosed with a peptic ulcer. If treated properly, duodenal ulcers will heal in around four weeks and stomach ulcers in eight.
Treating the underlying cause lowers the chance of your ulcer coming back. This usually means getting rid of the H. pylori or stopping taking NSAIDs.
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What Other Drugs Will Affect Protonix
Tell your doctor about all your other medicines. Some may interact with pantoprazole, especially:
-
human immunodeficiency virus such as rilpivirine, atazanavir, or nelfinavir
-
blood thinners including warfarin
-
methotrexate or
-
a diuretic or “water pill.”
This list is not complete. Other drugs may affect Protonix, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.
What Drinks Help Ulcers
For most medical conditions, the best drink is water. For an ulcer, other types of drinks, such as dairy and juice, can increase acid production in the stomach. Some drinks, such as orange juice, are acidic, so youre just pouring gas on the fire. Plain and simple, water not only doesnt irritate the stomach or increase stomach acid, but it can also dilute and weaken the acid in the stomach.
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Stomach Ulcer Treatment Plan: 4 Natural Treatments
1. Boost Immunity Against H.pylori
Many people host H. pylori in their bodies, but only a minority of people infected with H. pylori develop ulcers. A highly inflammatory lifestyle weakens the immune system and makes the digestive system more susceptible to an infection caused by H. pylori bacterium. H. pylori itself can then cause even more inflammation within the stomach and small intestine, creating a vicious cycle thats hard to break.
Research shows that today about 30 percent to 40 percent of people in the U.S. get an H. pylori infection, but usually the infection remains dormant, without any noticeable symptoms emerging for years or even ever. Other research suggests that H. pylori is present in more than 90 percent of duodenal ulcers and about 80 percent of stomach ulcers.
H. pylori contributes to ulcers by damaging the mucous coating that protects the lining of the stomach and duodenum from acids. Once damaged, stomach acid is able to get through to the sensitive lining, causing burning and irritation. H. pylori can be spread through unclean water, food or utensils, plus through bodily fluids but its only likely to cause an ulcer when someones immunity is low for other reasons.
You can also protect yourself from H. pylori infection by frequently washing your hands with soap and water and by eating foods that have been cooked completely.
2. Limit Use of NSAID Pain Relievers
3. Manage Stress
4. Eat A Stomach Ulcer Diet
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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Tip Sheet: Ulcers And Pain Relievers
Be cautious about taking over-the-counter pain relief drugs if you have an ulcer. Some can worsen your symptoms. These tips will help.
If you have an ulcer, you need to be very careful with over-the-counter pain medicines. Remember: No drug is risk-free. It is very important to discuss the use of over-the-counter drugs with your doctor, especially if you have an ulcer or other medical conditions. Here are some tips from the experts for using these medicines safely.
- Avoid Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs . If you have an ulcer, use of NSAIDs, such as aspirin or ibuprofen could be dangerous and potentially life-threatening. A non-NSAID pain reliever, like acetaminophen, may be a safer choice. Your doctor can recommend appropriate alternatives.
- Take precautions. If you need to use an NSAID, always take it with milk or food to make it easier on your stomach. To prevent problems, your doctor might recommend:
- A prescription proton pump inhibitor
- High doses of prescription H2 receptor antagonists
- Cytotec, a drug to protect your stomach lining