5 Chronic ulcer drugs that help relieve symptoms

Those of you who have ulcers may often feel the symptoms of ulcers that come and go at different times. If this is the case, chances are you are experiencing chronic gastritis. So, what drugs can be consumed to relieve symptoms of chronic gastritis?

Choice of drugs to relieve chronic gastritis

At least once in a lifetime, a person must have had an ulcer. It should be noted that the term ulcer is not a disease but a group of symptoms that appear in the digestive system, such as flatulence, nausea and vomiting, and heartburn.

The causes of ulcers also vary, one of which is inflammation of the stomach lining (gastritis). Well, if you have gastritis, ulcers can become chronic.

The progression of the disease is indeed gradual. However, it does not rule out that chronic ulcers due to gastritis can develop more severely. That is why, treatment must be done immediately to prevent the severity of the ulcer condition.

Fortunately, the symptoms of chronic gastritis can be relieved by medication. Here are some medications that you can choose to treat chronic stomach ulcers, including:

1. Antacids

The first chronic ulcer medication that will treat chronic gastritis at the same time is antacids. This drug works by neutralizing excess acid levels in the stomach. In addition to chronic gastritis, this drug can also relieve symptoms of ulcers due to GERD and stomach ulcers.

Various examples of antacid drugs that you can take to treat chronic gastritis, such as Rolaids® and Tums®, which can be purchased over the counter at pharmacies. Medicines work very well when taken after a meal, as symptoms usually appear at this time.

According to the National Health Service website, when using this chronic ulcer medication, you should not take other drugs within 2 to 4 hours. The reason is, because antacids can interfere with the performance of other drugs.

In addition, drugs to treat chronic gastritis also have side effects, such as diarrhea, constipation, nausea, vomiting, or more severe problems with kidney function. These side effects are most likely to occur if the medicine you are taking exceeds the recommended dosage.

Most of the antacids are considered safe for consumption by pregnant women or nursing mothers. But better, both of them consult a doctor before using the drug. Likewise, if you want to give this drug to children because some types of drugs should not be consumed by children under 12 years of age.

In people who have high blood pressure (hypertension) or cirrhosis (liver damage), the use of antacids should be monitored by a doctor because they are high in sodium and can worsen the condition.

2. H-2 receptor blockers

The h-2 receptor blockers are drugs to relieve symptoms of ulcers caused by acid reflux. The way it works is to inhibit enterochromaffin cells from responding to histamine so that the production of stomach acid is not excessive.

When compared to antacid drugs, h-2 receptor blockers are believed to be no less good for restoring chronic gastritis due to gastritis. The reason is, the action of the h-2 receptor blocker drug can last in the body for a certain period of time. As a result, the chronic ulcer complaints that you experience can be relieved for longer.

Examples of H-2 receptor blockers that you can take to treat chronic ulcers are cimetidine, famotidine, nizatidine, and ranitidine. However, in people who have kidney problems, are pregnant, and are breastfeeding, it is not recommended to take this medicine.

Just like other drugs, ulcer drugs to treat chronic heartburn can also cause side effects, including diarrhea, headaches, dizziness, and fatigue.

3.Proton pomp inhibitors (PPI)

PPI drugs are chronic gastritis relief drugs that can be purchased over the counter for a slightly lower dose, or by a doctor's prescription for a stronger dose.

PPI drugs usually have a much stronger dose than the previous two drugs. In addition, these drugs are generally also quickly absorbed by the body so that they can relieve chronic ulcer symptoms easily.

PPI drugs work by reducing the production of acid produced by the stomach. Examples of these drugs include omeprazole (Prilosec®) and lansoprazole (Prevacid 24 HR®) for low doses.

Meanwhile, for a stronger dose, it can only be obtained through a doctor's prescription. Follow the rules for taking PPI drugs according to the instructions from your pharmacist or doctor.

4. Antibiotics

This antibiotic drug for treating gastritis aims to kill the H. pylori bacteria, which only doctors can give. Yes, these bacteria live in the digestive system and if uncontrolled, their numbers will cause infection in the slow lining and cause gastritis.

Well, in this case, a drug that is effective in treating chronic gastritis is a combination of antibiotics such as clarithromycin (Biaxin) and amoxicillin (Amoxil, Augmentin, or others) or metronidazole (Flagyl) to kill bacteria.

Even so, it needs to be reminded that this antibiotic is not aimed directly at treating chronic gastritis. But to treat chronic gastritis, which later affects the symptoms of ulcers. Antibiotics can also be combined with PPI drugs to accelerate healing.

Unlike the antacids that you can easily get at a pharmacy or drug store, antibiotics can only be purchased by prescription. The reason is, antibiotics are not over-the-counter drugs that you can use without a doctor's supervision.

5. Supplements

Until now, there is no treatment for chronic gastritis caused by autoimmune reactions.

However, vitamin B12 deficiency that triggers the appearance of this condition can be treated with additional supplements. Either in the form of tablets, injections, or infusions.

Apart from regularly taking these types of drugs according to the recommended dosage, you are also advised to avoid taking aspirin. This is because aspirin and other NSAIDs can make stomach irritation worse.

Treatment for chronic gastritis that causes this ulcer is indeed quite a long time. However, do not let it go untreated. Because this can not only make the disease not heal, but also make the condition worse.

Choose chronic ulcer medication according to the cause

The various types of drugs above have different ways of working. Therefore, the choice of chronic ulcer medication should not be arbitrary. Especially if you look at the very diverse causes of chronic gastritis, such as bacterial infections, long-term use of NSAIDs, or the presence of autoimmune diseases.

Drug selection must be adjusted to the underlying cause. For example, if the symptoms of an ulcer arise due to a bacterial infection, the drug that must be taken is an antibiotic. The doctor may give other drugs as a combination treatment so that the symptoms can relieve.

In order to determine the cause of chronic ulcers, you may need to undergo various medical tests, such as imaging tests or detection of bacteria through feces or breath.

Chronic ulcer care in addition to taking medication

Taking medication can indeed relieve symptoms of chronic gastritis. However, this is not a single treatment because ulcer symptoms can recur at any time due to various triggers. Some things to consider if you have chronic gastritis include:

Take care of your diet

Ulcer symptoms are closely related to dietary patterns, from food choices, portions, to meal times. Despite taking medication, if you continue to eat spicy, acidic and fatty foods, the symptoms of ulcers will recur.

Likewise with eating enormous portions of food and often delaying food. Avoid this, OK!

Give up smoking and drinking alcohol

Apart from your diet, you also need to stop smoking and alcohol. Cigarette smoke and substances in alcohol can irritate the lining of the stomach, which can trigger symptoms and make them worse.

Breaking the habit spontaneously is not easy because you will feel the withdrawal effect of both. The key, you have to reduce smoking and alcohol gradually.

If you have trouble quitting this habit, don't hesitate to consult a doctor.

Avoid drugs that trigger chronic ulcer symptoms

Drugs such as the NSAID class can trigger ulcer symptoms to recur. If you continue to drink it, the symptoms of ulcers will get worse and make treatment more difficult later.

So, people who have chronic gastritis and are still taking painkillers should stop medication. Ask your doctor to prescribe other drugs that are safer for the stomach so that the ulcer does not recur.