Table of contents:
- A doctor recommended gastric ulcer medication
- 1. Antibiotics
- 2. Proton inhibitor pump
- 3. H2 blockers (histamine receptor blockers)
- 4. Antacids
- 5. Gastric protectant drugs
- 6. Bismuth subsalicylate
- Choice of traditional gastric ulcer medicine
- 1. Turmeric
- 2. Garlic
- 3. Aloe vera
Gastric ulcers are disorders of the digestive system caused by a variety of things, from bacterial infections to the consumption of pain relievers. The annoying symptoms can be treated with certain drugs. Check out the options for gastric ulcer drugs below.
A doctor recommended gastric ulcer medication
Gastric ulcers are digestive diseases that need to be treated immediately so as not to cause bleeding and dangerous complications. Almost all drugs used aim to treat the symptoms experienced.
Some peptic ulcer drugs can indeed be purchased directly at the nearest pharmacy, but there are also types of drugs that require a doctor's prescription. The following drugs are commonly used to treat stomach ulcers.
1. Antibiotics
Antibiotics are a drug that is used as a way to treat stomach ulcers. This one drug is usually used to fight bacteria that cause injury to the stomach wall, namely Helicobacter pylori.
When doctors detect bacteria in the stomach, they will prescribe a number of antibiotics to fight the infection, including:
- amoxicillin,
- clarithromycin,
- metronidazole,
- tinidazole,
- tetracyclines,
- levofloxacin.
It should be noted that antibiotics can cause various side effects, from mild diarrhea to a metallic taste in the mouth. However, these side effects are usually only temporary.
In addition, antibiotics for stomach ulcers are generally recommended to be taken for about 2 - 4 weeks. When the dose is finished, you are required to return to the doctor for a check-up, whether the symptoms have improved or there are no changes.
That way, the doctor can also see if there are still bacteria H. pylori remaining in the stomach. If it's still there, the doctor will again prescribe a different, but stronger, antibiotic to treat a bacterial infection.
2. Proton inhibitor pump
Proton inhibitor pump or proton pump inhibitor (PPI) is a drug that is also often prescribed by doctors to treat stomach ulcers.
Indirectly, this drug works to prevent the wound in the stomach from getting worse due to the use of long-term pain relievers.
Although they cannot kill H.pylori bacteria, PPIs can help antibiotics to fight these bacteria. There are also several types of PPIs that doctors prescribe to relieve symptoms of stomach ulcers, namely:
- esomeprazole (Nexium),
- dexlansoprazole (Dexilant),
- lansoprazole (Prevacid),
- omeprazole (Prilosec, Zegerid),
- pantoprazole (Protonix),
- rabeprazole (AcipHex),
Although effective, this drug can trigger a number of side effects that need to be watched out for, ranging from headaches, stomachaches, to rashes.
3. H2 blockers (histamine receptor blockers)
Not much different from PPI, H2 blockers plays a role in reducing the amount of acid produced by the stomach. This peptic ulcer drug works by blocking the action of histamine on stomach cells to reduce acid production.
H2 blockers for gastric ulcers include:
- cimetidine (Tagamet)
- famotidine (Pepcid)
- ranitidine (Zantac)
- nizatidine (Axid) Protectants
Side effects of using this drug are rare, but may include diarrhea, headache, dizziness, a rash, fatigue.
4. Antacids
Antacids are drugs used to neutralize the acidic fluid produced by the stomach.
This peptic ulcer treatment needs to be done at a certain time, for example when eating or before bed so that the rising stomach acid goes down quickly.
Although they cannot fight bacterial infections that cause stomach ulcers, antacids can help you reduce stomach pain.
The type of antacid that is often used as a stomach ulcer drug is alginate. This drug works to produce a protective layer on the stomach wall to make it more resistant to the effects of acidic fluids.
Gastric ulcer medicine can be purchased at a pharmacy without having to redeem a prescription. The pharmacist can advise on which one is most suitable for you.
However, antacid drugs cannot be used continuously to treat symptoms of stomach ulcers. The side effects of both drugs can include diarrhea, bloating, and stomach cramps, but they are generally mild.
5. Gastric protectant drugs
Gastric protective drugs are a type of medicine that can coat and protect ulcers from acids and enzymes so that the healing process runs smoothly. Doctors usually only give one gastric protectant drug, namely sucralfate (Carafate).
If these drugs trigger headaches or diarrhea, tell your doctor immediately to change the medication. If you smoke or drink alcohol, it's best to quit first because it can slow down the healing of a stomach ulcer.
6. Bismuth subsalicylate
The bismuth subsalicylate content in peptic ulcer drugs actually plays an important role in coating the stomach wall to be safe from acid. In addition, this type of drug can also kill H. pylori, but it needs to be used in conjunction with other antibiotics.
However, these drugs are not recommended for pregnant and lactating women because they can interfere with fetal heart development.
Choice of traditional gastric ulcer medicine
Apart from doctors, the treatment of stomach ulcers is said to be supported by natural ingredients.
The natural methods below are believed to be able to treat stomach ulcers. However, it should be noted that there is still little scientific evidence to confirm that this natural remedy is safe and effective in relieving stomach ulcers.
Here are some choices of natural remedies that are believed to have the potential to relieve stomach ulcer problems.
1. Turmeric
The curcumin content in turmeric is believed to be one of the reasons why this yellow spice can help relieve the symptoms of stomach ulcers.
According to research in the journal Pharmacognosy Reviews, curcumin is reported to prevent damage to the stomach wall due to bacterial infection H. pylori.
Curcumin is said to help increase mucus secretion which protects the stomach wall against irritation of acidic fluids. However, this requires further research considering that it is still being tested on lab mice.
In addition, the level of effectiveness and safety of turmeric consumption to treat stomach ulcers is still being debated.
Some experts even suggest not to rush to consume turmeric when you have stomach ulcers because the side effects have not been confirmed.
2. Garlic
Apart from turmeric, another natural ingredient used to treat stomach ulcers is garlic. This cooking spice has antimicrobial and antibacterial properties which may have the potential to be a medicine to heal wounds in the stomach.
This is also proven through research from Avicenna Journal of Medicine. Experts report that consumption of raw garlic helps speed up the healing of bacterial infections H. pylori in the digestive system.
Even so, the limited number of participants made it difficult for experts to conclude the benefits. Further research is still needed to be able to classify garlic as a potent natural gastric ulcer drug.
3. Aloe vera
Not only is it useful as a hair treatment, aloe vera can also help relieve symptoms of stomach ulcers.
This natural method of stomach ulcers is believed to help reduce acid production in the stomach that is too high and neutralize its nature.
This effect is believed to relieve pain symptoms due to stomach ulcers. However, this study was limited to experimental mice and has not been followed up on humans on a large scale.
Consumption of aloe vera is considered safe and does not have the risk of triggering side effects. However, evidence of its efficacy is still needed as a natural peptic ulcer treatment for humans.
It's a good idea to discuss with your doctor first before trying the natural ways to treat stomach ulcers that have been mentioned. This also applies when you are already undergoing treatment from a doctor.
If you have further questions, please consult your doctor to find the right solution.
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