What is carafate?

Carafate is a gastric protective agent. It works by forming a protective layer on the ulcer to serve as a barrier against acid, bile salts, and enzymes in the stomach. Try looking for Sulcrafate  in the UK.  Check with your Dr.

Hi,

I'm in the UK and my GP refused to prescribe it - suggesting it was old fashioned and superseded by ppis. Also they seemed to have been discouraged from prescribing any adjunct therapies - it's ppis or bust over here!

If you're under a consultant you may be able to ask about it or at least ask why we're not offered it routinely here. You can buy Gaviscon over the counter of course, but it doesn't really do the same thing.

My GP said it was a very old medication he'd not heard mention of since medical school - so I didn't feel I could pursue it. Let me know if you succeed!

MMM

Is it OTC over there Bill? We have Gaviscon which they are happy to dish out by the gallon when you're pregnant but I don't know why Carafate is so out of favour over here!

MMM

Hi Loz,

I guess I'm the Carafate Queen...I always keep it on hand.  I have a very reactive stomach, and since I had the Nissen surgery, my wrap can also get irritated, as it is made from that same reactive stomach.

I don't think of it as a drug to use instead of PPIs, but rather in conjunction with them.

Carafate Suspension (what I consider the best) (or Sulcrafate/carafate tablets when mixed with a little water) will coat your esophagus and stomach and can protect it, thus allowing it to heal.  Even on PPI's you can have gastritis and esophagitis, and Carafate can speed up healing.  It was developed to treat ulcers, but works great when your healing from irritation as well.  It protects well from bile as well, and bile reflux is not affected by PPIs.

So...I don't see why the age of the drug should rule it out...look at asprin!

My PCP was happy that it was so helpful for me, as it is mainly eliminated through the GI tract and not absorbed.

Good luck!

Denise