What are the treatments for a stomach ulcer?
If H. pylori infection is the cause of the ulcer
Treatment to clear the infection will cure the ulcer. Two antibiotics are needed. In addition, a medicine to reduce the acid in the stomach is needed to allow the antibiotics to work well. You need to take this 'combination therapy' (sometimes called 'triple therapy') for a week. It is important to take the full course. One course of combination therapy clears H. pylori in up to 9 in 10 cases. (However, in a small number of cases, H. pylori infection returns at some stage in the future.)
If an anti-inflammatory medicine is the cause of the ulcer
If possible, you should stop the anti-inflammatory medicine. This allows the ulcer to heal. An acid-suppressing medicine is usually advised for several weeks to allow the ulcer to heal. However, in many cases the anti-inflammatory medicine is needed to ease symptoms of arthritis or other painful conditions. After the ulcer has healed, one option is to take an acid-suppressing medicine each day. This reduces the amount of acid made by the stomach, and greatly reduces the chance of an ulcer forming again.
Treatment for other uncommon causes
Treatment depends on the underlying cause.
After treatment
Another endoscopy may be advised to check that the ulcer has healed. Where appropriate, you may need a test to check that H. pylori has cleared. A second course of 'combination therapy' using different antibiotics is usually advised if the first did not clear the infection.
© EMIS and PIP 2005 Updated: June 2005 PRODIGY Validated
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Tracy, about 1 year
I was looking for info on what foods and drinks should be avided with a stomach ulcer if you could help
Report this commentandria, over 2 years
i was looking for info on what foods and drinks should be avided with a stomach ulcer if you could help
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janet, 12 months
i been suffering since may, i have allot of burning pain just under my ribs, im allways felling sick, belching, being bloated, or even being sick, going into a cold sweat, i suffer when eating meals, or when going toilet, to open my bowels, i get allot of abdomal pain in my lower part of stomach, by my ovarys, i just take pain killers ,im on omeprazole, but not helping,going back doctors, i allways avoid caffine, fizzy drinks,cheese, chips,spicey foods. i allways eat small meals aswell,
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