Stomach ulcer is a disease common in gastroenterological practice that has a chronic course and is accompanied by ulceration of the gastric mucosa. From a clinical point of view, it is accompanied by epigastric pain , nausea and vomiting, heartburn, and so on. Possible complications of this disease include gastric bleeding, the occurrence of a through defect in the stomach wall, and much more. In this article, we will talk about stomach ulcers in terms of treatment.    

Diet for stomach ulcers

One of the most important directions in the treatment of stomach ulcers is adherence to a special diet. 

Patients with such a diagnosis need to refuse food that irritates the stomach and increases the acidity of gastric juice. Fried and smoked foods, too spicy, sour and salty foods are prohibited. A sick person’s diet should consist primarily of boiled or steamed food.

Drugs that reduce gastric acid production

Therapy for stomach ulcers without fail includes the appointment of proton pump inhibitors. One of the most popular drugs is omeprazole . By inhibiting the proton pump, it inhibits the production of hydrochloric acid, causing a sustained decrease in gastric acidity. In addition, this drug is part of eradication therapy aimed at suppressing Helicobacter pylori infection.

Another known proton pump inhibitor is esomeprazole . In 2013, the results of the work of scientists from the Perm State Medical Academy named after I.I. E.A. Wagner. The aim of the study was to develop, evaluate the effectiveness and safety of a new method of treating erosions and gastric ulcers by combining a proton pump inhibitor and a probiotic . As a result, it was found that the combination of esomeprazole with an active culture of Lactobacterium plantarum 8P-A3 is a highly effective treatment method.  

H2-histamine receptor blockers are another group of drugs that inhibit the production of hydrochloric acid by the parietal cells of the stomach. They are also widely used in the treatment of gastric ulcers.

Antibiotic therapy and bismuth preparations

If Helicobacter pylori infection is detected , eradication therapy is mandatory . As we said, it includes proton pump inhibitors. In addition, the treatment regimen includes antibacterial agents and bismuth preparations.

The preferred antibiotics are metronidazole , clarithromycin and amoxicillin. They have activity against Helicobacter pylori , suppressing its reproduction.

As for bismuth preparations, their mechanism of action is to reduce the activity of pepsin and pepsinogen , increase the qualitative and quantitative characteristics of gastric mucus. These drugs form specific compounds that cover the ulcerative surfaces and protect them from the action of gastric juice. Thus, bismuth preparations promote the healing of peptic ulcers, the restoration of the protective barrier of the gastric mucosa.