Types of Medication for Gastritis

Gastritis refers to inflammation of the stomach lining that protects the stomach from the effects of acid. Some symptoms of gastritis include:

• Stomach pain
• Bloating 
• Nausea

The main causes of gastritis include:

• Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection
• Alcohol
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
• Physical stress
• Bile reflux

The two types of gastritis include:

1. Acute gastritis: Appears suddenly
2. Chronic gastritis: Appears overtime

In most cases, gastritis is curable and improves quickly with treatment.

Some of the commonly prescribed medications for gastritis include:

1. Antibiotics:
   • If the root cause of gastritis is H. pylori infection, your physician may prescribe a combination of antibiotics such as:
     • Clarithromycin and amoxicillin
     • Metronidazole
   • These are effective in destroying the bacterium. Your physician may prescribe proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) along with these drugs.
2. Antacids: Antacids relieve the symptoms of gastritis by neutralizing the stomach acid responsible for the inflammation.
   • Some examples include:
     • Aluminum hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, and simethicone
     • Calcium carbonate
     • Magnesium hydroxide
3. Histamine-2 (H2) blockers: H2 blockers relieve inflammation by blocking the action of histamine. Histamine activates stomach acid, especially after a meal.
   • Some examples of H2 blockers include:
     • Famotidine
     • Nizatidine
     • Cimetidine
   • Ranitidine was revoked from the market in the year 2020 due to the presence of cancer-causing agents.
4. PPIs: These drugs block acid production for longer periods than H2 blockers. They should be taken one hour before a meal.
   • Some examples include:
     • Pantoprazole
     • Rabeprazole
     • Dexlansoprazole
     • Esomeprazole
     • Lansoprazole
     • Omeprazole

There is no best medicine for gastritis. Treatment depends on the cause of gastritis. For example, if alcohol or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs cause acute gastritis, then discontinuing their use is the first choice. If a bacterial infection is a cause, antibiotics with proton pump inhibitors are the main treatment choice.

Common side effects of antibiotics include:

• Allergic reactions
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Nausea
• Headache

Common side effects of antacids include:

• Brands with calcium or aluminum may lead to constipation.
• Brands with magnesium may lead to diarrhea.
• Rarely, brands with calcium may cause kidney stones or other problems.
• Consuming large amounts of antacids that have aluminum might put you at risk of calcium loss, leading to osteoporosis (weak bones).

Common side effects of H2 blockers include:

• Headache
• Abdominal pain
• Diarrhea
• Nausea
• Gas
• Sore throat
• Runny nose
• Dizziness

Common side effects of proton pump inhibitors include:

• Headache
• Diarrhea
• Abdominal pain
• Bloating
• Constipation
• Nausea
• Gas

This is not a complete list of side effects and other serious side effects or health problems that may occur because of the use of this drug. Call your doctor for medical advice about serious side effects or adverse reactions. You may report side effects or health problems to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Antacids, H2 blockers, and proton pump inhibitors are safe during pregnancy. Always consult your physician before taking any type of antacids as some of them may contain sodium, causing more water retention. Moreover, some have aluminum, which isn’t considered safe during pregnancy.

Antibiotics such as clarithromycin and amoxicillin should be used when there is no other alternative during pregnancy. Enquire with your doctor about the safest antibiotics for gastritis.

Cimetidine may react with alcohol, leading to increased dizziness and drowsiness. Other drugs such as antacids and proton pump inhibitors don’t interact with alcohol, and combining them is safe. However, alcohol can cause gastritis or exacerbate its symptoms; therefore, it is better to avoid them completely or limit them based on the severity of the disease.