Sucralfate
Description
Sucralfate is an antiulcer agent which is used for the treatment of gastric (painful sores in the stomach lining) and duodenal ulcers (a peptic ulcer that develops in the first part of the small intestine) caused by excessive acid production in your stomach. Sucralfate works by forming a protective layer over the ulcer and prevents the exposure of the ulcer to gastric acid, allowing it to heal.
Sucralfate may cause side effects like constipation, headache, nausea, indigestion, skin rash, etc. These effects are generally mild and subside with time. Consult your doctor if any of these symptoms persist for a long time. Sucralfate may also cause dizziness and blurred vision. Hence, do not drive vehicles or operate machines after taking this medicine. Do not take this medicine if you are allergic to it.
Sucralfate is a prescription medicine that is available as tablet, suspension, syrup, and oral gel dosage forms. It should be taken at least 1 hour before food, mostly during the night. For ease of remembering, take this medicine around the same time every day. Take Sucralfate in doses prescribed by your doctor. Store this medicine at room temperature away from sunlight.
Sucralfate may not be suitable for all people. Inform your doctor if you have any medical conditions such as diabetes (increased blood sugar levels), liver or kidney problems. Sucralfate is known to interact with antacids (medicines that neutralise the acid in your stomach to relieve indigestion and heartburn). A time gap of 2 hours should be maintained between the intake of both medicines. Inform your doctor if you are pregnant, planning a pregnancy or are breastfeeding before starting the treatment with Sucralfate.
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Side effects
Major & minor side effects for Sucralfate
- Constipation
- Dry mouth
- Indigestion
- Nausea
- Skin rash
- Stomach pain
- Headache
- Blurred vision
- Chest pain
- Dizziness
- Back pain
- Excessive gas in stomach
- Vomiting
- Difficulty sleeping
Uses of Sucralfate
What is it prescribed for?
- Duodenal ulcer
- Gastric ulcer
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Concerns
Commonly asked questions
- Onset of actionThe effect of Sucralfate can be observed in 1 to 2 hours.
- Duration of effectThe effect of Sucralfate lasts for an average duration of 6 hours.
- Safe with alcohol?Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
- Is it habit forming?No habit-forming tendencies were reported for Sucralfate.
- Usage in pregnancy?Sucralfate is considered safe to be used in pregnancy. However, there are limited human studies regarding its safety in pregnancy. If you are pregnant, consult your doctor before using this medicine.
- Usage while breast-feeding?Sucralfate is considered safe to be used during breastfeeding. However, if you are breastfeeding, consult your doctor before using this medicine.
Allergy
Avoid using Sucralfate if you are allergic to it. Seek immediate medical attention if you notice any symptoms of allergic reactions such as skin rash, itching/swelling of the face/tongue/throat, breathing difficulty, etc.
Warnings for special population
Pregnancy
Sucralfate is considered safe to be used in pregnancy. However, there are limited human studies regarding its safety in pregnancy. If you are pregnant, consult your doctor before using this medicine.
Breast-feeding
Sucralfate is considered safe to be used during breastfeeding. However, if you are breastfeeding, consult your doctor before using this medicine.
General warnings
Driving or operating machines
Sucralfate may cause symptoms such as weakness, drowsiness, sleepiness, dizziness, etc. Hence, avoid driving vehicles or operating machines after taking this medicine.
Use in elderly
Sucralfate should be used with caution in elderly people due to the increased risk of severe side effects. Your doctor may prescribe this medicine in the lowest possible dose as needed.
Use in children
Sucralfate is not recommended for use in children under 12 years of age as the safety and efficacy data are not available.
Missed Dose
Do not skip any dose of Sucralfate. If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose. Do not double your dose to make up for the missed one.
Overdose
Never take more than the prescribed dose of Sucralfate. Seek emergency medical treatment if you suspect that you might have taken an overdose of this medicine.
All drugs interact differently for person to person. You should check all the possible interactions with your doctor before starting any medicine.
Interaction with Alcohol
Description
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Instructions
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Interaction with Medicine
Ciprofloxacin
Dicumarol
Digoxin
Phenytoin
Warfarin
Disease interactions
Diabetes Mellitus
Diabetes is a condition where your blood sugar levels are increased. Sucralfate may further increase your blood sugar levels. Your doctor may advise tests to monitor the blood sugar levels frequently while you are on treatment with Sucralfate.
Kidney diseases
Sucralfate is filtered by the kidney and excreted through urine. If you have kidney problems, Sucralfate may accumulate and lead to kidney damage. Your doctor may adjust the dose of this medicine based on your clinical condition.
Food interactions
Information not available.
Lab interactions
Information not available.
Sucralfate is used to treat gastric and duodenal ulcers (a peptic ulcer that develops in the first part of the small intestine). It should be taken on an empty stomach mostly during nighttime.
Do not take more than the prescribed dose. Inform the doctor if you are taking other medications as Sucralfate may alter the absorption of other medicines.
Avoid driving vehicles and operating machines after taking Sucralfate, as it may cause dizziness and blurred vision.
Inform your doctor if you have diabetes, liver or kidney problems. Do not consume alcohol while using this medicine as it may worsen drowsiness.
Keep the medicine away from the reach of children and pets. Ensure that the unused medicine is disposed of properly.
Miscelleneous
How it works
Sucralfate works by forming a protective layer over the ulcer and prevents the exposure of the ulcer to gastric acid, allowing it to heal.
Legal Status
Classification
Category
Miscellaneous GI agents
Schedule
Schedule H
Dailymed.nlm.nih.gov. 2021. Sucralfate Suspension 1 g/ 10 mL. [online] Available at: < [Accessed 27 September 2021].
Drugs, H., 2021. Sucralfate: MedlinePlus Drug Information. [online] Medlineplus.gov. Available at: < [Accessed 27 September 2021].
Accessdata.fda.gov. 2021. [online] Available at: < [Accessed 27 September 2021].
Information on this page was last updated on 21 Oct 2021
Disclaimer
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