Medical Health Encyclopedia

Possible Adverse Effects.

• Side effects are uncommon but may include headache, diarrhea, constipation, nausea, and itching.
• Pregnant women and nursing mothers should avoid taking PPIs, although recent studies suggest that these drugs do not increase the risk of birth defects.
• PPIs may interact with certain drugs, such as antiseizure agents (e.g., phenytoin), anti-anxiety drugs (e.g., diazepam), and blood thinners (e.g., warfarin).
• Long-term use of high-dose PPIs may produce vitamin B12 deficiencies, but studies are needed to confirm this risk.
• Long-term use of proton-pump inhibitors by people with H. pylori may, in theory at least, reduce acid secretion enough to cause atrophic gastritis (chronic inflammation of the stomach). This condition, in turn, is a risk factor for stomach cancer. Long-term use of PPIs may also mask symptoms of stomach cancer and delay diagnosis. At this time, however, there have been no reports of an increased risk of stomach cancer with long-term use of these drugs.

Sucralfate

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Sucralfate (Carafate) seems to work by adhering to the ulcer crater and protecting it from further damage by stomach acid and pepsin. It also promotes the defensive processes of the stomach. Sucralfate has an ulcer-healing rate similar to that of H2 blockers. Other than constipation, which occurs in 2.2% of patients, the drug has few side effects. Sucralfate does interact with a wide variety of drugs, including warfarin, phenytoin, and tetracycline.