An ulcer is a cavity in the wall of the stomach or duodenum.
The drugs prescribed against ulcers are designed to combat the symptoms, to help wound healing, and in the long term to prevent recurrence, frequent in this type of disease.
Gastric juices secreted in the stomach contain, among other substances, hydrochloric acid, different enzymes that break down food, and a mucous layer whose role is to protect the stomach wall against the attack of the acid.

An ulcer is formed due to an imbalance in this system that allows the attack of the walls by gastric acid.
The role of the ulcer is to act on the glands that produce gastric juices.
Gastric acid secretion and content of the stomach acid can be neutralized by antacid medications.


There are also substances that protect the mucosa, such as sucralfate, which is deposited as a new layer lining the wall.
Treatment should be generally followed for 4 to 6 weeks for duodenal ulcer, 6 to 8 weeks for gastric ulcer.

Often the symptoms subside before the ulcer is completely healed. It is therefore important not to discontinue treatment prematurely.

Various anti-ulcers

Antacids
They now contain salts of magnesium and aluminum. Bismuth, which causes disastrous side effects, is completely abandoned.
Antacids neutralize the acidity of gastric juice and protect the stomach lining from acid attack.

Their action on pain is relatively fast but only lasts the duration of the presence of the product in the stomach.
It is then discharged into the intestine and released with the feces.

Sucralfate
This product is a mixture of aluminum and a sugar widespread, sucrose.
When the contents of the stomach are acid, sucralfate has the ability to bind the protein on the surface of the mucosa.

It forms a layer that protects the walls against harsh acids.
Such as antacids, sucralfate has a fast enough action but limited in time.
It is used to prevent gastrointestinal side effects of anti-inflammatory.

The antiH2
It refers to as antiH2, receptor antagonists at the histamine.
These receptors in cells of the gastric mucosa increased the secretion of hydrochloric acid when stimulated by histamine, a chemical mediator of cells that are found also in allergy.
The antiH2 have revolutionized the treatment of the ulcer from marketing in 1976.

For the first time we had a drug capable of neutralizing the acid and to decrease its production.
They are administered once-daily, usually at night, at different doses in the acute or relapse prevention.
From a cost-effective unbeatable, they are the drug of basis of chronic ulcers.

Inhibitors of proton pump or IPP
PPIs act directly on the cellular mechanism of production of acid in the stomach: the proton pump glands that allow transforming a neutral hydrogen ion in acid ion.
Marketed in the early 90s, they became the standard treatment of acute exacerbations of ulcer but also disorders of the lower esophagus: reflux or reflux esophagitis.

Cure rates are excellent, with a shortened duration of the disease.
Relatively more expensive than antiH2, PPIs are not recommended as maintenance therapy when they are effective.

Prevention of recurrence
It is based in part on the drug, preferably antiH2, and the suppression of all aggressive behavior: spicy or acidic foods, alcohol and tobacco.
The latest findings confirm that the essential factor of recurrent stomach ulcer is the presence at the bottom of a germ cell specific, the helicobacter pylori.
By eradicating the germ is removed almost all recurrences.

To achieve this goal, the doctor uses a combination of three drugs for at least two weeks: PPI, an antibiotic in the penicillin group and one antibiotic with a very different group.

Side Effects
The antacid medications can cause a disorder of the bowel, diarrhea or constipation depending on the product, if taken in large doses and prolonged.
Aluminum captures the iron and phosphate, which can lead to deficiencies in the long term.

The magnesium is not indicated in patients with renal failure.
The antiH2 have side effects normally mild but very different: muscle aches, dizziness, nausea, bowel dysfunction, for example.
PPIs have few side effects but they combine well with other medicines that the doctor needs to know.

Back to Antiulcer