Gastritis Treatments and Medications

Nausea, vomiting, indigestion, and a burning feeling around the stomach area are common symptoms of gastritis. Indigestion and an upset stomach are usually not serious, but, if they persist for more than a week, these symptoms might indicate a bigger problem such as gastritis, which can result in stomach ulcers or stomach bleeding. Learn more about the symptoms of gastritis and how to treat it.

What is gastritis?

Gastritis is characterized by inflammation and irritation in the lining of the stomach. Indigestion, a burning, gnawing pain in the stomach, nausea, and belching are the most common symptoms of gastritis. Many people with gastritis, however, experience only minimal symptoms or none at all.

Gastritis is a complication of any number of conditions, most commonly an infection of the stomach lining by the Helicobacter pylori bacteria. There are, however, a variety of conditions that can irritate and inflame the stomach lining including:

• Smoking

• Excessive alcohol consumption

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such aspirin or ibuprofen

• The body’s immune system attacking the stomach lining (autoimmune gastritis)

• Other bacterial or viral stomach infections

• Bile acid flowing up into the stomach from the duodenum (bile reflux)

• Radiation treatment

• Physical injury or shock

• Other conditions such as sarcoidosis or eosinophilic gastroenteritis

Gastritis is typically a temporary condition, called acute gastritis, which goes away within a few days to a week. Prompt treatment can help prevent serious complications of acute gastritis, such as stomach ulcers—sores on the stomach’s lining—and stomach bleeding. Autoimmune gastritis and unresolved acute gastritis can develop into a chronic condition with potentially life-threatening complications.

Chronic gastritis is a serious and often progressive condition that can lead to the thinning of the stomach lining (gastric atrophy) or the replacement of stomach tissues with intestinal tissues (gastric intestinal metaplasia). The stomach can lose its ability to produce acid and other substances that aid digestion, causing vitamin B12 deficiency that can lead to pernicious anemia. Chronic gastritis, considered one of the world’s most common life-long illnesses, is also a major risk factor for stomach cancer.

Gastritis is commonly experienced. Many people just ride it out if it’s mild, so it’s uncertain how common the condition is. However, gastritis caused by an H. pylori infection or an autoimmune condition can and often does evolve into chronic gastritis. About 8% of the population of the United States has some form of autoimmune gastritis. Fortunately, H. pylori infects less than 1% of the American population each year, and infection rates are declining.

How is gastritis diagnosed?

Gastritis is primarily diagnosed by the patient’s history of symptoms, but a definitive diagnosis requires examining the stomach lining and looking at a sample of the stomach’s tissues under a microscope. Some patients will be diagnosed and treated by a general practitioner, but patients with certain types of gastritis will often need to see a gastroenterologist, or a doctor that specializes in digestive diseases.

There are no typical symptoms of gastritis. People with gastritis may experience:

• Stomach pain

• A burning feeling in the stomach

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• Bloating

• Belching

• Loss of appetite

• A feeling of fullness

These symptoms often appear or worsen after eating. However, many people with gastritis feel minimal or no symptoms at all.

Because gastritis is caused by other conditions, a patient’s history is vitally important in tracking down the cause of the problem. A healthcare provider will look for risk factors such as:

• Smoking

• Alcohol consumption

• Use of NSAIDs

• Allergies

• History of radiation therapy

• Gallbladder problems

• Inflammatory bowel disease

• Autoimmune disorders

• Vasculitis

A definitive diagnosis is made by examining the stomach lining with an endoscope and taking a sample of stomach tissue for microscopic examination. However, a healthcare professional may also use blood tests to identify underlying conditions, a stool test to identify possible infections, or a breath test to diagnose an active H. pylori infection. For patients with autoimmune gastritis, blood tests are required to identify and treat anemia.

Gastritis treatment options

While antacids and stomach acid reducers can alleviate symptoms, gastritis treatments focus on resolving the underlying condition. Treatment, then, can vary widely depending on the cause and type of gastritis.

Medications

Eradication of the bacteria is the primary goal when treating Helicobacter pylori infections. Patients will be put on a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) and antibiotics. Treatment of mycobacterial or viral infections will involve different types of antibiotics or antiviral medications. Over-the-counter antacids or stomach acid reducers can help relieve symptoms.

Cessation

When gastritis is caused by irritation from toxins (smoking or alcohol) or NSAIDs that erode the stomach lining (ibuprofen and naproxen, among others), the primary treatment is to stop exposing the stomach to these irritants. Over-the-counter stomach acid reducers or antacids can help alleviate symptoms until the stomach lining heals.

Autoimmune gastritis

Autoimmune gastritis, which frequently causes pernicious anemia, is treated with vitamin B12 injections and iron infusions.

Diet

Eosinophilic gastroenteritis can cause a rare form of gastritis due to an allergic reaction in the stomach lining. The disorder can affect any part of the digestive system, not just the stomach. Treatment primarily consists of restricting foods that cause allergic reactions, but patients may need immune-suppressing drugs such as corticosteroids or immunosuppressants if the intestines are also affected.

Gastritis medications

Gastritis is treated with different medications when it is caused by a Helicobacter pylori infection. Autoimmune gastritis will require iron or vitamin B12 supplementation. Over-the-counter antacids and acid reducers can help alleviate symptoms.

Antibiotics

When gastritis is caused by a Helicobacter pylori infection, the overwhelming priority is to eradicate the infection. First-line treatment usually involves a 10- to 14-day triple-drug regimen consisting of two antibiotics and a proton pump inhibitor or bismuth salt. Examples of first-line treatment include:

• Clarithromycin, amoxicillin, and omeprazole

• Clarithromycin, amoxicillin, and lansoprazole

• Metronidazole, tetracycline, a PPI, and a bismuth salt for drug-resistant H. pylori

Triple-drug therapy effectively clears H. pylori infection in slightly less than four out of five patients. If triple-drug therapy does not work, the doctor may try a quadruple-drug therapy or a sequence of drugs.

Proton pump inhibitors

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are the first-line therapy to treat gastritis due to H. pylori infection. Considered strong stomach acid reducers, omeprazole, lansoprazole, and esomeprazole decrease stomach acid secretions. As a result, proton pump inhibitors can help improve the healing of the stomach lining when used with antibiotics that fight off the infection. Proton pump inhibitors also relieve irritation of the stomach lining by reducing stomach acid. Most patients will not need further acid suppression after the infection has been cleared.

H2 blockers

Histamine-2 blockers, or H2 blockers, such as cimetidine or nizatidine, are available without a prescription to reduce stomach acid and relieve acute gastritis symptoms. Unlike proton pump inhibitors, H2 blockers reduce stomach secretions by blocking a substance, histamine, that would otherwise signal stomach cells to secrete acid.

Bismuth salts

Bismuth citrate and bismuth subsalicylate neutralize stomach acid, reduce inflammation of the stomach lining, kill bacteria, and prevent H. pylori bacteria from attaching to the stomach lining. A bismuth salt can be combined with antibiotics to improve the healing of gastritis caused by H. pylori.

Antacids

Gastritis symptoms can be controlled with over-the-counter antacids such as calcium carbonate, magnesium hydroxide, or sodium bicarbonate, taken with meals to neutralize acid in the stomach. These antacids may be used to temporarily relieve pain caused by stomach acid.

Supplements

The first-line therapy for autoimmune gastritis is to treat anemia with vitamin B12 supplements and iron injections. Reduced stomach acid caused by autoimmune gastritis decreases the body’s ability to absorb iron from food. Reduced availability of a stomach enzyme called pepsin also reduces the ability of the digestive system to release and absorb vitamin B12 from food proteins.

Choosing the best medication

There is no “best” medication for gastritis. Pharmacological treatment will depend on the nature of the condition, the severity of symptoms, and the risk of complications. Helicobacter pylori infections can be difficult to resolve, so more than one type of therapy may need to be tried.

Ahorre mucho en sus recetas

con la aplicación gratuita SingleCare.

Calificación promedio de 4.8

Enviar enlace por texto

Enviar

Best medications for gastritis