Also called: Duodenal ulcer, Gastric ulcer, Stomach ulcer, Ulcer
A peptic ulcer is a sore in the lining of your stomach or your duodenum, the first part of your small intestine. A burning stomach pain is the most common symptom. The pain: Peptic ulcers happen when the acids that help you digest food damage the walls of the stomach or duodenum. The most common cause is infection with a bacterium called Helicobacter pylori. Another cause is the long-term use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs) such as aspirin and ibuprofen. Stress and spicy foods do not cause ulcers, but
can make them worse. To see if you have an H. pylori infection, your doctor will test your blood, breath, or stool. Your doctor also may look inside your stomach and duodenum by doing an endoscopy or x-ray. Peptic ulcers will get worse if not treated. Treatment may include medicines to reduce stomach acids or antibiotics to kill H. pylori. Antacids and milk can't heal peptic ulcers. Not smoking and avoiding alcohol
can help. You may need surgery if your ulcers don't heal.Summary
NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Start Here
- Definition and Facts for Peptic Ulcers (Stomach
Ulcers) (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) Also in Spanish
- Peptic Ulcer Disease (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
- Peptic Ulcer Disease (American College of Gastroenterology)
- Ulcers (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
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Treatment for Peptic Ulcers (Stomach Ulcers) (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
- Helicobacter pylori and Cancer (National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish
- Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
- Stomach ulcer (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Ulcers (Nemours Foundation)
- Culture - duodenal tissue (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Peptic ulcer (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Stomach acid test (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Tests for H. pylori (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Your course of treatment will be based on the cause of your peptic ulcer. Treatment typically involves taking acid-suppressing medications to kill H. pylori bacteria, if present, and to promote healing, as well as stopping any medications that are causing your peptic ulcer. You may also experience symptom relief from certain lifestyle measures.
Medication Options
If your peptic ulcer is found to be caused by an H. pylori infection, your doctor will prescribe antibiotics to kill the bacteria in your digestive tract.
Over-the-counter antacids like Mylanta, Maalox, or Tums can help you feel better, but they will not heal ulcers. If left untreated, complications from ulcers can occur.
Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are drugs that block acid production and promote healing of peptic ulcers.
PPI drugs include:
- Esomeprazole (Nexium)
- Lansoprazole (Prevacid)
- Omeprazole (Prilosec, Zegerid)
- Pantoprazole (Protonix)
- Rabeprazole (Aciphex)
Acid blockers, also called H2 blockers, reduce acid production and heal ulcers. These include:
- Cimetidine (Tagamet)
- Famotidine (Pepcid)
- Nizatidine (Axid)
- Ranitidine (Zantac)
Another option that your doctor may prescribe is a cytoprotective agent — a drug that protects the lining of your stomach and small intestine, which can help relieve symptoms of an ulcer.
Alternative and Complementary Therapies
Certain lifestyle changes may help you recover from a peptic ulcer:
- Watch your diet. If you know that there are specific foods that make your ulcer feel worse, avoid them until your treatment is over. For many people, those include alcohol, caffeine, fatty foods, spicy foods, and chocolate.
- Stop smoking. Ulcers take longer to heal, and medications for ulcer treatment may be less effective, if you are a smoker. Scientists don’t know exactly why smoking has those effects.
- Use pain medications with caution. Pain relievers known as NSAIDs, which include aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen, can slow ulcer healing even if they didn’t cause your peptic ulcer. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) does not cause ulcers, so it may be a good substitute. Be sure to talk to your doctor before taking any of these medications; they may continue putting you on a PPI drug to prevent ulcer recurrences.
Prevention of Peptic Ulcers
Limiting your use of NSAIDs may help prevent peptic ulcers. Taking an alternative pain reliever, such as acetaminophen, may help you avoid NSAIDs. If you need to take an NSAID, opt for the lowest effective dose and take it with a meal.
Peptic ulcers caused by an infection with H. pylori are not usually preventable.
Limiting alcohol and avoiding smoking may also help prevent peptic ulcers.