Sign inBefore taking sucralfate
Before taking sucralfate make sure your doctor or pharmacist knows:
- If you are pregnant, trying for a baby or breast-feeding.
- If you have kidney problems.
- If you are taking other medicines, including supplementary feeds (sip feeds or bottle feeds), medicines available to buy without a prescription, herbal or complementary medicines.
- If you have ever had an allergic reaction to this or to any other medicine.
How to take sucralfate
- Before beginning treatment, read the manufacturer's printed information leaflet.
- Take sucralfate exactly as directed by your doctor.
- Sucralfate tablets may be crushed and stirred into water if preferred.
- Take sucralfate 1 hour before a meal, and take your last dose at bedtime.
- Do not take any indigestion remedies at the same time of day as sucralfate. Leave a gap of at least half an hour.
- Try to take sucralfate at the same times each day to avoid missing any doses.
- Treatment with sucralfate is usually for 4-6 weeks, but may be needed for up to 12 weeks.
- If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless it is nearly time for your next dose, in which case leave out the missed dose. Do not take two doses together to make up for a missed dose.
Getting the most from your treatment
- Try to avoid foods that may upset your stomach, such as alcohol, citrus fruits and juices, drinks containing caffeine, tomatoes and spicy food.
- Smoking increases the amount of acid produced by the stomach and will aggravate your condition. If you are a smoker, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice on quitting.
- If you supplement your diet with sip feeds or bottle feeds prescribed by a dietician or doctor, separate your feed and your dose of sucralfate by at least 1 hour.
- If you are having any treatment like an operation or dental treatment, tell the person carrying out the treatment which medicines you are taking.
- Keep your regular doctor's appointment so your progress can be monitored.
- If you buy any medicines, check with a pharmacist that they are safe to take with your other medicines.
Can sucralfate cause problems?
Along with their useful effects, all medicines can cause unwanted side-effects although not everyone experiences them. These usually improve as your body adjusts to the new medicine, but speak with your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following side-effects continue or become troublesome.
| Common side-effects - these affect less than 1 in 10 people who take this medicine | What can I do if I experience this |
| Constipation | Try to eat a well-balanced diet containing plenty of fibre and drink 6-8 glasses of water each day |
| Less frequent side-effects include: diarrhoea, feeling sick, indigestion, gastric discomfort and wind, back pain, dizziness, headache, dry mouth and rash | If any of these become troublesome, speak with your doctor |
If you experience any other symptoms which you think may be due to this medicine, speak with your doctor or pharmacist.
How to store sucralfate
- Keep all medicines out of the reach and sight of children.
- Store in a cool, dry place, away from direct heat and light.
Important information about all medicines
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References
- Manufacturer's PIL, Antepsin® Tablets 1 g, Chugai Pharma UK Limited, electronic Medicines Compendium. Dated November 2006, accessed July 2010.
- Manufacturer's PIL, Antepsin® Suspension, Chugai Pharma UK Limited, electronic Medicines Compendium. Dated November 2007, accessed July 2010.
- British National Formulary; 59th Edition (March 2010) British Medical Association and Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, London (link to current BNF)