Treatment For Peptic Ulcer Disease

Peptic ulcer disease is defined as sores that can develop in the stomach, small intestine, or esophagus. Ulcers that develop inside the lining of the stomach are classified as gastric. Duodenal ulcers occur on the first section of the small intestine, called the duodenum.

Peptic ulcer disease can occur due to a bacterial infection or long-term use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications. A typical effect of peptic ulcer disease is a burning sensation in the area between the breastbone and belly button. Other symptoms could include vomiting, bloating, heartburn, early satiety, lack of appetite, and weight loss. In severe cases, ulcers will cause bleeding. As unpleasant as peptic ulcer disease sounds, it can be treated.

Antibiotics

One of the most common causes of peptic ulcer disease is the presence of Helicobacter pylori bacteria. If H. pylori are found in a patient’s digestive tract, one of the major options doctors will recommend for treating peptic ulcer disease is the use of antibiotics to kill H. pylori. Some of the common antibiotics doctors will recommend for this include tetracycline, amoxicillin, metronidazole, and tinidazole. The specific antibiotics doctors choose for each patient are determined based on where the patient in question lives and the current antibiotic resistance rates. When antibiotics are chosen, patients typically need to take them for about two weeks, at least to start, to clear up peptic ulcer disease.

Antacids

Although antacids cannot heal peptic ulcer disease completely, doctors often recommend patients include an over-the-counter antacid in their medication regimen for treating peptic ulcer disease. The reason for this is because antacids can help neutralize stomach acid and as a result, rapidly relieve pain. However, patients shouldn’t take an antacid for peptic ulcer disease without consulting a doctor, as some antacids can interact with certain antibiotics and reduce their overall effectiveness (on both sides). Thus, patients should ask their primary doctor to recommend an appropriate antacid to go in combination with their antibiotics and other medications for the best results.