How Should This Medicine Be Used
Sucralfate comes as a tablet and liquid to take by mouth. If you are taking sucralfate to treat ulcers, the tablets or liquid usually are taken four times a day. If you are taking sucralfate to prevent an ulcer from returning after it has healed), the tablets usually are taken twice a day. Take sucralfate on an empty stomach, 2 hours after or 1 hour before meals. Take sucralfate around the same times every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take sucralfate exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.
Shake the liquid well before each use to mix the medication evenly.
This medicine must be taken regularly to be effective. It may take up to 8 weeks for ulcers to heal.
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
Can Stomach Ulcers Just Go Away
Some ulcers follow a chronic pattern of healing temporarily on their own and then returning. This might happen if the factors contributing to your ulcer, such as NSAID use, smoking and alcohol, are temporarily reduced and then resumed. You wont completely heal your ulcer until you eliminate the cause, whether that is chronic NSAID use, H. pylori infection or an overactive stomach. Even after successful treatment, you can get another ulcer.
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How Are Ulcers Diagnosed
Ulcers are diagnosed with a medical history, physical examination, and tests. Most ulcers will be diagnosed and treated by a general practitioner, but some cases may require a gastroenterologist, a doctor that specializes in the digestive system.
The medical history will help the doctor diagnose the condition and discover any complications or red flags. You should be ready to answer important questions, such as:
- Is your stool black or bloody?
- Are you throwing up?
- Is it difficult to swallow?
- Has any related family member had cancer in the digestive system?
- Do you use NSAIDs or anticoagulant medications?
The symptoms of peptic ulcers can include stomach pain, early feeling of fullness when eating, weight loss, and mild nausea. For a stomach ulcer, the pain increases two to three hours after a meal. The pain of a duodenal ulcer decreases after a meal, which can lead to weight gain in some people with duodenal ulcers.
Esophageal ulcer symptoms are different. They include pain when swallowing, heartburn, upset stomach, nausea, vomiting, vomiting blood, and a feeling that food is getting stuck after swallowing.
All patients with stomach pain will be tested for H. pylori bacteria. A urea breath test is fast and accurate, but stool or urine tests may also be used.
What Are Foot Ulcers
A foot ulcer is an open sore on the foot.
A foot ulcer can be a shallow red crater that involves only the surface skin. A foot ulcer also can be very deep. A deep foot ulcer may be a crater that extends through the full thickness of the skin. It may involve tendons, bones and other deep structures.
People with diabetes and people with poor circulation are more likely to develop foot ulcers. It can be difficult to heal a foot ulcer. In people with these conditions, even a small foot ulcer can become infected if it does not heal quickly.
If an infection occurs in an ulcer and is not treated right away, it can develop into:
- A spreading infection of the skin and underlying fat
- A bone infection
- Gangrene. Gangrene is an area of dead, darkened body tissue caused by poor blood flow.
Among people with diabetes, most severe foot infections that ultimately require some part of the toe, foot or lower leg to be amputated start as a foot ulcer.
Foot ulcers are especially common in people who have one or more of the following health problems:
- Peripheral neuropathy. This is nerve damage in the feet or lower legs. Diabetes is the most common cause of peripheral neuropathy. When nerves in the feet are damaged, they can no longer warn about pain or discomfort. When this happens, tight-fitting shoes can trigger a foot ulcer by rubbing on a part of the foot that has become numb.
In addition to diabetes, other medical conditions that increase the risk of foot ulcers include:
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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.
Surgery And Other Procedures
If bleeding from an ulcer does not stop with medication and supportive care , a physician called a gastroenterologist will perform an endoscopy. He first identifies the ulcer and the area that is bleeding, then injects medications to stop the bleeding and stimulate the formation of a blood clot. If the bleeding recurs or you have a perforated ulcer or an obstruction, surgery may be required. About 30% of people who come to the hospital with a bleeding ulcer need endoscopy or surgery.
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Can A Primary Care Doctor Treat An Ulcer
However, most people with ulcers dont see gastroenterologists, who specialize in digestive diseases. Instead they take their bellyaches to a general internist or family prac\ti\tio\n\er. Sonnenberg estimates these primary care doctors are using antibiotics to cure about one-third of their ulcer patients these days.
Mayo Clinic Q And A: Treating Your Peptic Ulcer
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I have had a peptic ulcer for about nine months. Ive tried over-the-counter medicine and even antibiotics, but its not getting better. What do you recommend?
ANSWER: Nine months is a long time to treat a peptic ulcer. These ulcers usually heal within several months. If you havent already done so, consult with a health care provider who specializes in disorders of the gastrointestinal tract. He or she can help you find the underlying cause of your ulcer and decide on the best treatment going forward.
Peptic ulcers are open sores on the inside lining of the stomach or the upper part of the small intestine. Its possible to have a peptic ulcer and not have any symptoms, although they may cause stomach pain. In some people, a peptic ulcer isnt identified until they start to experience symptoms related to a complication from an ulcer, such as bleeding or a hole in the lining of the stomach or bowel.
Before starting treatment, it is important to diagnose an ulcer definitively. Typically, peptic ulcers are diagnosed using a procedure known as endoscopy. For this test, your health care provider passes a small tube with a lens at the tip, called an endoscope, down your throat and into your esophagus, stomach and upper portion of the small intestine. During the exam, he or she looks for peptic ulcers and, if necessary, takes biopsies.
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How Do I Know If I Have An Ulcer
Describing your symptoms may lead your doctor to suspect that you have a peptic ulcer, but it wonât likely help determine the type, because the symptoms of stomach and duodenal ulcers are so similar. The doctor will do tests like these to figure out which specific type of ulcer you have:
- Endoscopy. This is the most accurate diagnostic test to diagnose a peptic ulcer. The doctor puts a flexible tube down your throat to see inside your esophagus , stomach, and duodenum. This allows the doctor to see the cause of bleeding and test for any bacterial infection. During this exam, your doctor may also do a biopsy to check for cancer.
- Barium swallow. If you can’t have an endoscopy, this test, also called an upper GI series of X-rays, can help your doctor identify and locate the ulcer and determine its type and severity. The test requires you to drink a “barium milkshake,” which has a liquid that will show up on an X-ray. They may ask you to eat only bland, easy-to-digest foods for 2-3 days before the test. After drinking the chalky liquid, you lie down on a tilting exam table. This evenly spreads the barium around your upper digestive tract and lets the X-ray take pictures at different angles.
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Can Pantoprazole Cause Anxiety
Pantoprazole may cause side effects, but it does not seem to cause anxiety. Some people in clinical trials reported headaches while taking pantoprazole. Less than 2% of people in clinical trials also reported depression and vertigo .There is some clinical evidence that shows that people with gastroesophageal reflux disease sometimes also have anxiety and depression. In one clinical study, pantoprazole and the antidepressant drug amitriptyline were found to be safe and effective in treating people with both GERD and anxiety.
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Treating Helicobacter Pylori Infection
If your stomach ulcer’s caused by a Helicobacter pylori bacterial infection, you’ll be given:
- a course of antibiotics
- a medication called a proton pump inhibitor
This is also recommended if it’s thought your stomach ulcer’s caused by a combination of an H. pylori infection and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs .
Causes Of Stomach Ulcers
A stomach ulcer can be caused by a variety of factors, including:
- Helicobacter pylori bacteria is thought to be responsible for around 60 per cent of stomach ulcers and at least 90 per cent of duodenal ulcers.
- Certain medications which include aspirin or clopidogrel, taken regularly to help prevent heart attack or stroke, and drugs for arthritis. Anti-inflammatory medications are thought to cause around two fifths of stomach ulcers.
- Cancer stomach cancer can present as an ulcer, particularly in older people.
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When Should I See A Doctor If I Think I Have A Peptic Ulcer
- If you have burning pain in your upper stomach that is relieved by eating or taking antacids, call a health-care professional for an appointment. Dont assume you have an ulcer. Certain other conditions can cause similar symptoms.
- If you vomit blood or have other signs of gastrointestinal bleeding, go to an emergency department right away. Peptic ulcers can cause massive bleeding, which requires blood transfusion or surgery.
- Severe abdominal pain suggests perforation or tearing of an ulcer. This is an emergency that may require surgery to fix a hole in your stomach.
- Vomiting and abdominal pain also can be a sign of an obstruction, another complication of peptic ulcers. This also may require emergency surgery.
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Why Is This Medication Prescribed
Sucralfate is used to treat and prevent the return of duodenal ulcers . Treatment with other medications, such as antibiotics, may also be necessary to treat and prevent the return of ulcers caused by a certain type of bacteria Sucralfate is in a class of medications called protectants. It sticks to damaged ulcer tissue and protects against acid and enzymes so healing can occur.
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How Do You Know If A Stomach Ulcer Is Bleeding
An ulcer that is bleeding heavily may cause: stool that is black and sticky. dark red or maroon colored blood in your stool. bloody vomit with the consistency of coffee grounds.
Where do stomach ulcers hurt?
The most common symptom of a stomach ulcer is a burning or gnawing pain in the centre of the tummy . But stomach ulcers arent always painful and some people may experience other symptoms, such as indigestion, heartburn and feeling sick.
What are the best medicines for ulcers?
1. Merc Sol One of the best Medicines for Ulcers. Merc Sol is among the top listed medicines for Ulcers. It is considered in irregularly shaped ulcers with undefined edges. Merc Sol is most suitable for mouth ulcers, ulcerative colitis , and skin ulcers.
What is the best treatment for an ulcer?
Some medication can boost the healing process of these ulcers. Treatment for mouth ulcers may include medication, like analgesics, antimicrobial mouthwashes, corticosteroids, gels, pastes, or liquid paint. Corticosteroids reduce the inflammation, which is also good for pain relief.
What is the treatment for stomach ulcers?
Treatment & Medication. Treatment of stomach ulcers consists of killing H. pylori and decreasing the amount of acid in the stomach. This requires several types of medications. Physicians may prescribe several antibiotics at once, or use a combination drug such as Helidac to kill H. pylori.
How Can I Prevent A Stomach Ulcer From Occurring Or Returning
- Reduce NSAID use, if possible. Consider whether acetaminophen might substitute. If you take NSAIDs for medical reasons, talk to your doctor about reducing your dosage or switching your medication. Your doctor may also prescribe another medicine to take with NSAIDs to protect your stomach lining.
- Reduce other irritants that may contribute to too much stomach acid or erode your stomach lining, including smoking and alcohol use.
- Take an H. pylori breath test to find out if you have an overgrowth of the bacteria.
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Peptic Ulcer Treatment In Central Texas
If you have a peptic ulcer or suspect you might have one based on the symptoms you are experiencing, consider seeing the experts at Austin Gastroenterology. We have substantial experience treating peptic ulcers and would love to help you find relief. To make an appointment, call one of our locations that is convenient for you or request an appointment online.
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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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 If A Peptic Ulcer Doesnt Heal
Most often, medicines heal a peptic ulcer. If an H. pylori infection caused your peptic ulcer, you should finish all of your antibiotics and take any other medicines your doctor prescribes. The infection and peptic ulcer will heal only if you take all medicines as your doctor prescribes.
When you have finished your medicines, your doctor may do another breath or stool test in 4 weeks or more to be sure the H. pylori infection is gone. Sometimes, H. pylori bacteria are still present, even after you have taken all the medicines correctly. If the infection is still present, your peptic ulcer could return or, rarely, stomach cancer could develop. Your doctor will prescribe different antibiotics to get rid of the infection and cure your peptic ulcer.
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