Stomach ulcers are painful sores that affect the stomach, the upper part of the small intestine and esophagus. It was once thought that ulcers were caused by stress, but discoveries have found the main cause for the sores is a bacterium called Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). Treatments for stomach ulcers eliminate the bacteria and control acid production, allowing the sore to heal.
Antibiotics
H. pylori is a bacterium that grows in the stomach. For some people, an H. pylori infection is completely asymptomatic. The National Institute of Health estimates that 20 percent of people under 40 years of age have the bacteria in their stomach. The stomach has a protective mucous that protects the tissue from the acidity of the digestive enzymes. H. pylori breaks down this membrane, allowing the acid to cause ulcerations in the stomach. Antibiotics are used to destroy the bacteria. Doctors may use a combination of antibiotics, but the main medications prescribed are amoxicillin (Amoxil), clarithromycin (Biaxin) and metronidazole (Flagyl). Typical antibiotic cycles are two weeks. The drugs are also taken in combination with acid production reducing agents.
Acid Blockers
Acid blockers treat ulcers by inhibiting the amount of acid production. They block acid from being produced in the body, increase the pH in the stomach and allows the ulcers to heal. The target for acid blockers is histamine. Histamine is known as an immune response to allergens. However, histamine is also responsible for the acid production in the stomach. By blocking histamine's ability to attach to target stomach cells, acid production is reduced. Acid blockers are available over-the-counter or in prescription form. Common names for are ranitidine (Zantac) and famotidine (Pepcid).
Proton Pump Inhibitors
Proton pump inhibitors work directly on the cells in the stomach that produce acid. Proton pump inhibitors are similar to acid blockers in that they increase the stomach pH and give sores the ability to heal. They also inhibit H. pylori's growth. Long-term use of proton pump inhibitors cause hip fractures in some patients, so calcium supplements are recommended. These medications are found over-the-counter and in prescription form. Common names for proton pump inhibitors are meprazole (Prilosec), lansoprazole (Prevacid), rabeprazole (Aciphex) and esomeprazole (Nexium).
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