The most common cause of peptic ulcer is infection of Helicobacter pylori. This bacteria enters and anchor in epithelial lining of duodenum, stomach or intestine. Induction of acid production by this organism is the basic reason of ulcer formation.
Treatment Methods for Peptic Ulcer
The major treatment method is using drugs against Helicobacter pylori, to reduce acidity and to replenish the epithelial/gastric lining that has been lost by infection. Antibiotics against the bacteria include tetracycline, metronidazole, clarithromycin and amoxicillin. Adequate dose and complete course is effective in killing the organism.
There are two classes of acid suppressing drugs. They are: H2 blockers and proton pump inhibitors. H2 blockers are drugs that inhibit histamine production in body. Histamine is a signal molecule responsible for acid production. So blocking histamine can directly cut down acidity and pain. cimetidine, famotidine, rantidine and nizatidine are some examples of H2 blockers. Proton pump inhibitors are drugs that block certain types of pumps in cell surface that transport ions resulting in acidity. Some commonly used proton pump inhibitors are omeprazole, esomeprazole, lansoprazole and pantoprazole. Both these sets of drugs are effective in managing ulcer symptoms for prolonged time and are being prescribed normally for last many years. The third type drug used for ulcer is to protect stomach lining. Bismuth salicylate is the major component that acts as protector in commercially available such drugs. But in most cases, an antibiotic alone with an acid reducing drug and stomach lining protector has found to be powerful in eradicating bacteria and ulcer related problems.
Due to resistance shown by certain strains of H. pylori, the antibiotics prescribed in different countries differs. Two weeks of triple therapy treatment is found to be effective in more than 90 percent of patients. This includes two antibiotics to kill bacteria and either an acid suppressant or mucous protector. As antibiotics prevent bacteria and other tablets control other symptoms and reduces the chance of recurrence, triple therapy is found to be effective. But the problem of taking nearly twenty tablets per day may cause some problems like vomiting, nausea, dizziness, headache, dark stools and yeast infections in women. Withdrawing from triple therapy can control these symptoms. In rare cases, side effects are also observed in patients. Results of some studies also showed that one-week triple therapy is also effective in controlling the disease with fewer side effects. Another choice of treatment is dual therapy that includes one antibiotic and acid suppressor. Even though this is not that much effective as triple therapy, side effects are less. |
