Gastritis Medication

Gastritis is a digestive disorder in which the lining of the stomach is inflamed. As a result, the person experiences persistent abdominal pain, frequent vomiting, which may eventually cause loss of appetite. In most cases, H. pylori strains of bacteria are the main culprits behind the onset of gastritis.

In case the inflammation is accompanied by partial destruction of the stomach lining, it can lead to formation of ulcers. Antibiotics is the first line of treatment to treat gastritis occurring from H. pylori infection.

This is the most commonly prescribed antibiotic for the treatment of gastritis. The medication is found to be effective in killing the H. pylori bacteria. The patient is supposed to follow this antibiotic therapy for a period of 10-12 days to completely eliminate the infection.

This is yet another antibiotic that can help to eliminate bacterial infections of the stomach. This medicine is powerful enough to destroy as well as stop the growth of H. pylori bacteria. Stomach ulcers caused by H. pylori are also treated with clarithromycin.

As we all know, the production of stomach acids is very important for proper digestion of food. However, stomach acids are troublesome for patients diagnosed with gastritis. This is because when these stomach acids come in contact with the lining of the stomach, the pain aggravates.

So it becomes very necessary to take pills that actually help to neutralize stomach acids. Thus, to reduce stomach acidity, antacids that may  be recommended are:

• Mylanta
• Maalox
• Gaviscon
• Pepto-Bismol

These medications are prescribed only when antacids fail to reduce the production of stomach acids. In other words, acid blockers is the second line of treatment and usually applicable when antacids are ineffective in alleviating the symptoms.

Some of the common antacid blockers recommended for this stomach problem are given below:

• Ranitidine
• Cimetidine
• Famotidine

PPIs have also been effective to reduce secretion of stomach acids. The cells along the stomach lining contain tiny pumps that release stomach acids for better digestion. PPIs reduce the ability of pumps to produce stomach acids.

Some of the common PPIs are given below:

• Lansoprazole
• Esomeprazole
• Omeprazole
• Rabeprazole

Usually, more than one medication is prescribed to get rid of the infection. So, for best results, along with antibiotics, one should also include a dose of antacids in the treatment. This is a powerful combination, considered to be very effective to overcome gastritis within a short duration of time.

Keep in mind that the aforementioned medications are prescription medicines and so cannot be purchased without the consent of a well-qualified doctor. One must also be careful enough to avoid an overdose. Missing the dose, too can decrease the effectiveness of this oral treatment. Other precautionary measures such as abstinence from alcohol are necessary to prevent the condition from aggravating.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this story is solely for educating the reader. It is not intended to be a substitute for the advice of a medical expert.