5 Kinds of acute ulcer medication to treat the symptoms

Gastritis due to inflammation of the stomach or gastritis is divided into two, namely chronic and acute. Acute gastritis leads to symptoms that appear suddenly with more severe pain, but quickly subside. Acute gastritis can be relieved by taking medication, either without a prescription or a doctor's prescription. However, what are the options for the drug? Come on, see the following drug recommendations.

Choice of drugs to treat acute ulcers

When an ulcer due to gastritis is acute, there will be a variety of distinctive symptoms. Symptoms of acute gastritis include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, flatulence, decreased appetite, and weight loss. However, what really distinguishes acute gastritis from chronic gastritis is the recovery time.

Compared to chronic gastritis, the time it takes for the body to recover in acute gastritis tends to be shorter. In addition, the process of treating chronic gastritis is also carried out by avoiding triggers and administering drugs.

Meanwhile, in acute gastritis, recovery is carried out in various ways according to the cause. You will be asked to avoid all forms of triggers for this condition.

Most cases of acute gastritis due to gastritis resolve within a few days or weeks after prevention of all triggers. However, over-the-counter or prescription drugs can also be used as an additional treatment.

Basically, acute and chronic ulcer medications caused by gastritis are not much different. It's just that, the dosage and the drinking rules are differentiated.

The following are various drugs that are usually taken to treat acute ulcer symptoms, either without or with a doctor's prescription.

1. Antacids

The choice of acute ulcer medication that can be purchased over the counter at pharmacies is antacids. The way antacids work is by neutralizing acid levels in the stomach thanks to the content of magnesium, sodium, calcium and various other ingredients in them.

When you have acute gastritis caused by gastritis, you may take more frequent doses of medication. You are usually advised to take this antacid drug according to the directions from the pharmacist and the instructions for taking the drug.

This chronic ulcer drug is known to affect the performance of other drugs. Therefore, you have to wait about 2 to 4 hours if you want to take other medicines. According to the National Health Service, several options for antacid drugs include calcium carbonate, sodium carbonate, and aluminum hydroxide.

Antacids are usually not recommended for prolonged use because they can affect kidney function. There are also side effects that may include stomach cramps, constipation, diarrhea or nausea and vomiting.

2. H-2 receptor blockers

The h-2 receptor blockers drug can also be consumed to treat acute gastritis due to gastritis, because it helps reduce acid production in the stomach. Examples of these drugs include famotidine (Pepcid®) and cimetidine (Tagamet®).

However, you cannot be careless when buying this drug. The reason is, low doses of acute ulcer drugs can indeed be purchased freely, but stronger doses can only be obtained by prescription from a doctor.

In order for optimal results, understand the rules for taking this drug from pharmacists, doctors, and drug packaging labels. H-2 receptor blockers can generally be taken by mouth for 10-60 minutes before meals.

Like other drugs, H-2 receptor blockers can cause side effects, such as diarrhea, headaches, dizziness, fatigue, and a rash on the skin.

3.Proton pump inhibitors (PPI)

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) or proton pump inhibitors are drugs to treat acute gastritis caused by gastritis. Just like the h-2 receptor blocker drugs, you can also get PPI drugs for low doses.

As for the strong dose, this acute ulcer drug can only be obtained through a doctor's prescription and adjusted to the conditions you are experiencing. Examples of PPI drugs are omeprazole (Prilosec®) and esomeprazole (Nexium®) which are tasked with inhibiting stomach acid production.

Pay attention to the rules for taking PPI drugs from pharmacists, doctors, and drug packaging labels. You are usually advised to drink it only once a day, and it should not be taken continuously for more than 14 days.

4. Medication coating agent

This drug aims to protect the lining of the stomach, as well as prevent stomach damage for people who regularly take NSAIDs.

Based on a doctor's prescription, the most common acute ulcer drugs are sucralfate (Carafte®) and misoprostol (Cytotec®). The rule of taking sucralfate is usually 1 hour before meals or 2 hours after meals.

While misoprostol can be taken with meals and at bedtime. Follow the dosage and the rules for taking this acute ulcer medication as directed by your doctor. You should not use this medicine if you have taken an antacid within the previous 30 minutes.

There are several side effects that may occur after you take this medicine, namely rash and itching on the skin, insomnia, dizziness or headache, and indigestion. In women who are menstruating, the medication can cause more bleeding than usual and stomach cramps.

5. Antibiotics

In some cases, acute ulcers due to gastritis caused by H. pylori bacterial infection, require antibiotics to treat it. These types of antibiotics, for example, amoxicillin, clarithromycin, and tetracyclines (should not be taken by children under 12 years).

This acute ulcer drug can only be purchased through a doctor's prescription, so it is not sold freely in pharmacies. The reason is, carelessly using drugs can cause an overdose which can increase the risk of antibiotic resistance.

This indicates that the bacteria are more resistant to antibiotics, and need another, stronger antibiotic as a substitute.

Antibiotics are safe to take together with antacid drugs, h-2 receptor blockers, and PPIs. Pay attention to the dosage of taking antibiotics according to the advice of your doctor or pharmacist.

Generally, treatment with antibiotics can take from 10 days to 4 weeks, depending on your health condition.

Choose acute ulcer medication according to the cause

Based on the reviews above, there are various kinds of drugs that you can choose to treat acute ulcers. However, you need to know that each drug class has different performance. That means, you shouldn't just choose drugs.

Find out first the cause, then select the appropriate drug. In order to know the exact cause, a doctor's examination needs to be done.

A doctor's examination is not only needed to find out the causes of chronic ulcers. Doctors can also supervise drug use, especially in people with certain health problems, such as kidney problems, liver damage, heart disease and hypertension and pregnant or breastfeeding women.

Ordinary acute ulcer medication does not work, consult a doctor

Although chronic ulcers generally heal quickly, you shouldn't underestimate the symptoms. The reason is, chronic ulcers can develop to be more severe if not treated properly. As a result, symptoms will become more severe and more difficult to treat.

If indeed the over-the-counter medication that you are taking does not relieve symptoms of acute gastritis, see your doctor immediately. The doctor will prescribe a stronger drug or increase the dose of certain drugs.