An ulcer refers to a sore found in the lining of your digestive tract, according to the Family Doctor Website of the American Academy of Family Physicians. Symptoms of an ulcer include burning pain in your stomach or esophagus (tube that leads from your mouth to your stomach), nausea, vomiting, weight loss and blood in your stool. Stress, smoking, alcohol and a bacteria called Helicobacter pylori are to blame for ulcer formation. According to the Mayo Clinic, ulcers affect up to 10 percent of people in the United States at least once in their lives. If you suffer from ulcers, there are specific medications and methods to cure this medical condition.
Step 1
Avoid smoking, because smoke increases acid production in your stomach, according to the Mayo Clinic. With increased acid production, ulcer formation is very likely.
Step 2
Do not overuse nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory pain medications such as acetaminophen. Overuse of these medications can lead to ulcers.
Step 3
Limit your alcohol consumption. The Mayo Clinic states that increased amounts of alcohol can aggravate parts of your digestive tract (stomach, esophagus and intestines) and lead to inflammation and ulcers.
Step 4
Kill the helicobacter pylori bacteria with a combination of specific antibiotic medications such as amoxicillin, clarithromycin and metronidazole. Your doctor will give you a prescription for these medications when the presence of helicobacter pylori is confirmed. Take these medications for at least two weeks, or as your doctor recommends.
Step 5
Reduce the amount of acid production in your stomach with acid blocker and proton pump inhibitor medications. Acid blockers such as ranitidine block histamine (a substance in your body) from binding to its receptor. This prevents acid production in your stomach. Proton pump inhibitors such as omeprazole block your stomach from releasing acid.
Step 6
Protect your stomach from acids with antacid medication and cytoprotective agents. Antacids neutralize your stomach acid and protect against ulcer formation. Cytoprotective agents such as sucralfate coat the lining of your digestive tract to prevent ulcer formation.
Tips and Warnings
- Take your medications as your doctor prescribed. Failing to do so can result in the formation of more ulcers.
Things You'll Need
- Amoxicillin
- Clarithromycin
- Metronidazole
- Proton pump inhibitors such as omeprazole
- Acid blockers such as ranitidine
- Antacid
- Cytoprotective agent such as sucralfate
