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sucralfate
Antepsin§, Carafate, Sulcrate

Pregnancy Risk Category B

How supplied
Tablets:
1 g
Suspension:
1 g/10 ml

Action
Unknown. Probably adheres to and protects the ulcer's surface by forming a barrier.

Indications & dosage
Short-term (up to 8 weeks) treatment of duodenal ulcer--

Adults:
1 g P.O. q.i.d. 1 hour before meals and h.s.
Maintenance therapy for duodenal
ulcer--

Adults:
1 g P.O. b.i.d.

Adverse reactions
CNS:
dizziness, sleepiness, headache, vertigo.
GI:
constipation, nausea, gastric discomfort, diarrhea, bezoar formation, vomiting, flatulence, dry mouth, indigestion.
Musculoskeletal:
back pain.
Skin:
rash, pruritus.

Interactions
Drug-drug.
Antacids: may decrease binding of drug to gastroduodenal mucosa, impairing effectiveness. Don't administer within 30 minutes of each other.
Cimetidine, ciprofloxacin, digoxin, ketoconazole, norfloxacin, phenytoin, quinidine, ranitidine, tetracycline, theophylline:
decreased absorption. Separate administration times by at least 2 hours.

Effects on diagnostic tests
None reported.

Contraindications
No known contraindications.

Nursing considerations

Patient teaching

*Liquid contains alcohol. **May contain tartrazine.  †Canada  ‡Australia  §U.K.  OTCOver the counter
Reactions may be common, uncommon, life-threatening, or COMMON AND LIFE-THREATENING

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