|
| Pronunciation |
|
 (soo
KRAL
fate) |
|
|
| Brand Names |
|
| Carafate® |
|
|
| Foreign Brand
Names |
|
| Antepsin (Mexico); Novo-Sucralate (Canada);
Sulcrate® (Canada); Sulcrate® Suspension Plus
(Canada) |
|
|
| Therapeutic
Categories |
|
|
Gastrointestinal Agent, Miscellaneous |
|
|
| Reasons not to take this
medicine |
|
|
- If you have an allergy to sucralfate or any other part of the
medicine.
|
|
|
| What is this medicine used
for? |
|
|
- This medicine is used for the treatment of ulcers in the stomach and
small intestine.
- The liquid (suspension) has been used in the treatment of oral and
esophageal ulcers due to radiation, chemotherapy, and
sclerotherapy.
|
|
|
| How does it work? |
|
|
- Sucralfate protects the ulcer from acid. It acts as a
barrier.
|
|
|
| How is it best taken? |
|
|
- Take on an empty stomach. Take 1 hour before or 2 hours after meals.
- A liquid (suspension) is available if you cannot swallow pills. Those
who have feeding tubes can also use the liquid. Flush the feeding tube before
and after medicine is given. Shake well first.
- Do not take antacids 30 minutes before or after taking this
medicine.
|
|
|
| What do I do if I miss a
dose? |
|
|
- Take a missed dose as soon as possible.
- If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed one. Return to
your regular schedule.
- Do not take a double dose or extra
doses.
|
|
|
| What are the precautions when
taking this
medicine? |
|
|
- Avoid alcohol (includes wine, beer, and liquor). Will prevent ulcer
from healing.
- Limit caffeine (for example, tea, coffee, cola) and chocolate intake.
Use with this medicine may cause nervousness, shakiness, rapid heartbeats, and
anxiety.
- Avoid or cut down on smoking.
- Try to separate medicines from this one by 2 hours. This medicine
prevents absorption of many medicines. Talk to healthcare provider if you have
more questions.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make
sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling
about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of
face, lips, tongue, throat; or any other symptoms involved.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan on getting
pregnant.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are
breast-feeding.
|
|
|
| What are the common side effects
of this
medicine? |
|
|
- Constipation. More liquids, regular exercise, or a fiber-containing
diet may help. Talk with healthcare provider about a stool softener or
laxative.
|
|
|
| What should I monitor? |
|
|
- Follow up with healthcare
provider.
|
|
|
| Reasons to call healthcare
provider
immediately |
|
|
- Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing;
tightness in the chest; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits;
swelling of face, lips, tongue, throat.
- Blood in the stool and toilet bowl or vomiting blood.
- Any rash.
- No improvement in condition or feeling
worse.
|
|
|
| How should I store this
medicine? |
|
|
- Store in a tight container at room
temperature.
|
|
|
| General statements |
|
|
- Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's
medicine.
- Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.
- Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, herbal/supplements,
vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider
(doctor, nurse, pharmacist, physician assistant).
- Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine,
including over-the-counter or natural products (herbs,
vitamins).
|
|
|
Copyright © 1978-2001 Lexi-Comp Inc. All Rights Reserved
|
