Antacids
Antacids are over-the-counter (OTC) medications that
are used asadjunct therapy to treat peptic ulcers. They include:
·
aluminum carbonate gel
·
calcium carbonate
·
magaldrate (aluminum-magnesium complex)
·
magnesium hydroxide and aluminum hydroxide
·
simethicone.
Antacids work locally in the stomach by
neutralizing gastric acid.They don’t need to be absorbed to treat peptic
ulcers.
Antacids are distributed throughout the GI tract
and are eliminat-ed primarily in stool.
The acid-neutralizing action of antacids reduces
the total amount of acid in the GI tract, allowing peptic ulcers to heal.
Pepsin, one of the stomach secretions, acts more
effectively when the stomach is highly acidic; therefore, as acidity drops,
pepsin ac-tion is also reduced. Contrary to popular belief, antacids don’t work
by coating peptic ulcers or the lining of the GI tract.
Antacids are primarily prescribed to relieve pain
and are used ad-junctively in peptic ulcer disease.
Antacids also relieve symptoms of acid indigestion,
heartburn, dyspepsia (burning or indigestion), or gastroesophageal reflux
dis-ease (GERD), in which the contents of the stomach and duode-num flow back
into the esophagus.
Antacids may be used to control hyperphosphatemia
(elevated blood phosphate levels) in kidney failure. Because calcium binds with
phosphate in the GI tract, calcium carbonate antacids pre-vent phosphate
absorption.
All antacids can interfere with the absorption of
oral drugs given at the same time. Absorption of digoxin, phenytoin,
ketoconazole, iron salts, isoniazid, quinolones, and tetracyclines may be
reduced if taken within 2 hours of antacids. (See Adverse reactions toantacids.)
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