From the Guidelines
Sucralfate 1000 mg should be taken four times daily, usually on an empty stomach one hour before meals and at bedtime, to effectively treat and prevent ulcers in the stomach and intestines. The medication works by forming a protective coating over ulcers, creating a barrier that protects the damaged tissue from stomach acid, bile, and enzymes, allowing natural healing to occur 1.
Key Considerations
- The standard adult dosage is typically 1000 mg (1 gram) taken four times daily.
- For ulcer treatment, the recommended duration is 4-8 weeks, while maintenance therapy may continue at a reduced frequency.
- Sucralfate should be taken consistently and not simultaneously with other medications, as it may reduce their absorption.
- Common side effects include constipation, dry mouth, and nausea.
- Patients should take the full course as prescribed even if symptoms improve, and should inform their healthcare provider if they experience severe constipation or if symptoms worsen.
Clinical Evidence
Studies have shown that sucralfate is effective in preventing stress ulcer bleeding in critically ill patients, with a lower incidence of nosocomial pneumonia compared to antacids and H2-receptor antagonists 1. Additionally, sucralfate has been associated with a reduced mortality rate compared to antacids and H2-receptor antagonists 1. In the context of gastrointestinal issues in patients with features of Marfan syndrome, sucralfate may be used to treat gastritis and reflux, along with proton pump inhibitors and H-2 blockers 1.
From the FDA Drug Label
The recommended adult oral dosage for duodenal ulcer is 1 g four times per day on an empty stomach. The recommended dosage of sucralfate is 1 g four times per day.
- The dosage is for active duodenal ulcer treatment.
- The dosage should be taken on an empty stomach 2, 2.
From the Research
Sucralfate 1000 mg Dosage
- The conventional dosage schedule for sucralfate is 1 g 4 times a day, but a dose of 2 g twice a day may be equally effective in duodenal ulcer healing 3.
- A study compared the efficacy of sucralfate 2 g twice a day and 1 g 4 times a day in duodenal ulcer healing, and found that the more convenient dosage schedule of 2 g twice a day is as effective as the 1 g 4 times a day regimen in the short-term treatment of duodenal ulcer 3.
- Another study found that sucralfate suspension 1 g four times per day was significantly better than placebo for the healing of active duodenal ulcer 4.
Efficacy of Sucralfate
- Sucralfate has been shown to be a safe and effective short- and long-term treatment for patients with peptic ulcer 5.
- The efficacy of sucralfate has been compared with both placebo and histamine (H2)-receptor antagonists, and sucralfate has been found to be a safe and effective medication in preventing duodenal ulcer recurrence 6.
- Sucralfate can prevent recurrent duodenal ulcers in approximately 75% of patients for up to 1 year, and is generally of equal efficacy to other medications such as cimetidine and ranitidine 7.