Your digestive system is composed of your esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, colon and rectum. It is a vital component necessary to digest the food you consume. In some cases, you may develop certain digestive problems, such as peptic ulcers and ulcerative colitis. Manifestations of peptic ulcers include heartburn and stomach pain, while manifestations of ulcerative colitis include stomach pain, persistent bloody stool and fever. Specific medications are available to treat digestive problems.
Famotidine
Famotidine is a medication used to treat peptic ulcers, gastroesophageal reflux disease (acid reflux or GERD) and Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, a disease characterized by gastrointestinal tumors and peptic ulcers. According to Drugs.com, famotidine is a histamine-2 receptor blocker. Normally, histamine binds to its receptors on your stomach to induce stomach acid production. However, famotidine prevents this from occurring as it blocks the histamine receptor binding site. Famotidine's side effects include diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, a headache and muscle cramps. It can also cause a pounding heartbeat, numbness and seizures. Famotidine is available as a chewable tablet or liquid. Typically, you take this medication for up to eight weeks.
Sucralfate
Sucralfate is a medication used to treat ulcerative colitis, a type of inflammatory bowel disease. According to DailyMed, sucralfate is also used to treat intestinal (duodenal) ulcers. Its contents literally bind to the ulcer and protect if from further stomach acid damage. Sucralfate's side effects include itching, a skin rash, dizziness, trouble sleeping and a headache. Typically, you take 1 g of sucralfate four times a day.
Mesalamine
Mesalamine, like sucralfate, is a medication used to treat the symptoms of ulcerative colitis. It can also treat proctitis (rectal inflammation) and proctosigmoiditis (rectal and intestinal inflammation). According to Drugs.com, mesalamine alters the substances in your body that induce inflammation, diarrhea and tissue damage. Its side effects include a sore throat, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, dizziness and a skin rash. Mesalamine is available as a capsule or extended-release tablet.
