Digestive Health Peptic Ulcer Disease A Guide to Carafate (Sucralfate) A common prescription to treat duodenal ulcers By Abby Norman facebook twitter linkedin Abby Norman is a freelance science writer and editor. She is also the author of "Ask Me About My Uterus: A Quest to Make Doctors Believe in Women's Pain." She is an advocate for women's health. Learn about our editorial process Abby Norman Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Emmy Ludwig, MD on September 18, 2018 Emmy Ludwig, MD, is board-certified in gastroenterology and hepatology. She is an associate attending physician at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and an associate professor at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City. Learn about our Medical Review Board Emmy Ludwig, MD Updated on November 20, 2019 Print Table of Contents View All Mechanism of Action Dosage Side Effects Warnings Sucralfate, also called Carafate, is a prescription medication used to treat duodenal ulcers, which form in the first part of the small intestine. Duodenal ulcers are a type of peptic ulcer. This type of ulcer forms when the lining of the stomach or small intestine gets worn down by the acids that are produced to aid in digestion. Symptoms of duodenal ulcers include: Pain in the stomach or chestFeeling sick or full after eating only a small amount of foodHaving no appetiteLosing weight when you aren't tryingFeeling sick to your stomach or throwing up Blood in your vomit or stool Doctors used to think that ulcers were caused by stress, but today we know that peptic ulcers are usually caused by bacteria (H. pylori) that hurts the mucus lining of the stomach or small intestine. Sometimes, ulcers can form when patients are taking high doses of NSAIDs, a type of over-the-counter pain medication like ibuprofen or aspirin. Taking a lot of these medications, or taking them for a long time, can wear down the lining of the stomach and allow ulcers to form. The Link Between H. Pylori and Peptic Ulcers SDI Productions / Getty Images Mechanism of Action Carafate is a type of medication called protectants. These medications adhere to tissue in the lining of the stomach or small intestine that have been damaged and protect them from digestive acid and enzymes while they heal. Protectants do not get absorbed by the body as other medications do. Instead, they act as a coating that helps prevent the ulcer from getting worse. Carafate is prescribed to treat active ulcers, but the medication doesn't prevent new ulcers from forming. A doctor may also prescribe additional medications, such as antibiotics, for patients who are at risk of developing additional ulcers. Dosage Your doctor can prescribe Carafate in a pill or liquid form. The liquid form is sometimes referred to as Carafate suspension. When prescribed for an active stomach ulcer, the pills or liquid dose are usually taken several times a day. In order for the medication to work, you need to take Carafate exactly as your doctor prescribes it for you. It may take many weeks (up to eight) for the ulcers to heal. Usually, your doctor will tell you to take Carafate: By mouth, either as a pill or liquidAt the same time every dayOn an empty stomach, either one hour before eating or two hours after eating Side Effects Carafate can cause minor side effects, though they are rarely serious enough for patients to stop taking the drug. The most common side effect is constipation, which occurs in about 2 percent of patients. Other side effects include: DiarrheaUpset stomachNausea and vomitingDry mouthDizzinessTrouble sleepingHeadache Serious side effects are rare but possible. Seek emergency medical care if you experience any of the following after you start taking Carafate: Rash or hivesTrouble breathingSigns of an anaphylactic allergic reaction (swelling of the throat or mouth) Warnings Patients with kidney disease or diabetes may not be able to take Carafate. Tell your doctor if you have either of these conditions or are being treated for them (such as being on dialysis).If you have diabetes, your doctor will monitor you for episodes of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) that can happen when you are taking Carafate.Carafate can affect how your body absorbs certain medications. Make sure you tell your doctor about any medication you take before you start Carafate. If you are taking certain medications, like antacids, antibiotics, or drugs that thin your blood (warfarin), your doctor may tell you to take less or stop taking them while you are taking Carafate. Make sure to tell your doctor about any medications you take, even if they are over-the-counter, nutritional, or herbal supplements. Carafate is categorized as a Category B drug. This means that based on available research, the American College of Gastroenterology considers the drug safe to take if you are pregnant. Be sure to tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding.It is not known whether Carafate is safe or effective for children. Keep this medication out of reach of children. Do not take more of this medication than your doctor prescribes. If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. Overdose of Carafate is not common, but if you think you have taken too much, call Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222 or go to the emergency room. A Word From Verywell Carafate is a safe and effective prescription medication used to treat duodenal ulcers. Before you start taking Carafate, let your doctor know if you have conditions like diabetes or kidney disease, are nursing, pregnant, or plan to become pregnant, or have had adverse reactions to medications like Carafate before. Tell your doctor about any other medications you are taking, even if they are over-the-counter or dietary/herbal supplements. Carafate can change how your body absorbs certain medications, so your doctor might want you to take less or stop taking certain medications while you're taking Carafate. Make sure you only take as much as your doctor prescribes and take the medication for as long as your doctor tells you to. Carafate make take many weeks (up to eight) to help duodenal ulcers heal. Carafate can cause minor side effects, though they are usually not serious enough for patients to stop taking the drug. If you experience any serious side effects, such as swelling of the mouth or trouble breathing, stop taking Carafate and call your doctor. Peptic Ulcer Diet Recommendations Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Gas pain? Stool issues? Sign up for the best tips to take care of your stomach. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Sucralfate - Drug Summary. Prescribers' Digital Reference. Carafate. Food and Drug Administration. Carafate. Monthly Prescribing Reference.