Sucralfate Drug Details
Therapeutic Class:
Anti-ulcer (protectant)
Forms:
Tablet, liquid
Administration:
By mouth
Therapeutic Uses:
Duodenal ulcers
Controlled Status:
Not a controlled substance
Sucralfate (Carafate) Drug Class
Sucralfate (soo-kral-fayt) belongs to a group of drugs called protectants.
Sucralfate (Carafate) Age Range
Sucralfate is approved for use in adults. The safety and efficacy of this medication in pediatric patients have not been established.
Sucralfate Uses
Sucralfate (Carafate) Uses
Sucralfate helps ulcers heal. It is used to prevent and treat duodenal ulcers (sores in the duodenum which is the first part of the small intestine).
There may be other uses of sucralfate. Your doctor or health system pharmacists can give you further information on sucralfate drugs.
Sucralfate (Carafate) Mechanism of Action
Sucralfate covers the ulcer sites and protects the area from acid, enzymes, and bile salts, thus preventing further injury and allowing the ulcer to heal.
Sucralfate (Carafate) Doses
Sucralfate forms include a 1-gram tablet and a 1 gram/10 mL suspension. The usual dose is 1 gram four times a day to treat an active duodenal ulcer and 1 gram twice a day for maintenance therapy to prevent the recurrence of a healed ulcer.
Sucralfate Directions
How To Use Sucralfate (Carafate)
Sucralfate comes in the form of a tablet and oral suspension to be taken by mouth 4 times a day for an active ulcer and 2 times a day to prevent the recurrence of a healed ulcer. Take the medicine on an empty stomach (either 2 hours after or 1 hour before meals). Try to take it around the same time every day.
Read the prescription label carefully and take sucralfate exactly as prescribed. Do not change the dose, dosing frequency, or treatment duration without your doctor’s approval.
Shake the liquid medicine well before use. Measure sucralfate oral suspension with a medicine dose measuring device such as the dosing syringe provided and not a kitchen spoon.
While healing of the duodenal ulcer may occur in 1-2 weeks, your health care professional may prescribe sucralfate for up to 8 weeks to make sure the ulcer heals completely. You should continue taking the medicine regularly for the full prescribed length of treatment for it to be effective.
Ulcers in the duodenum are a chronic and recurrent problem. Short-term treatment with sucralfate can help to completely heal an ulcer. However, successful treatment with sucralfate does not change the post-healing frequency of ulcer formation, meaning it does not prevent future ulcers from forming.
Missed dose: If you miss a dose of sucralfate, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the next dose according to your regular dosing schedule. Never take a double dose or extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.
Storage: Store at room temperature (between 15-30° C or 59-86° F) away from moisture, heat, and direct light in the original container, tightly closed. Do not freeze the liquid sucralfate. Do not store medications in the bathroom where they can be exposed to moisture and heat. Keep all medications safely out of reach of children and pets.
Unused medicine: Unused sucralfate should be disposed of in a way that other people, children, and pets cannot get to them. Do not throw sucralfate in the trash or flush it down the toilet. The best way to dispose of expired or unneeded sucralfate is through a drug take-back program or your local waste disposal company. Learn more about proper medication disposal.
NOTE: This medication guide is a summary and may not contain all possible drug information on sucralfate. The information contained here may not be up-to-date. This sheet is for information purposes only. If you have questions about sucralfate, talk to your doctor for medical advice.
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Sucralfate Side Effects
Sucralfate (Carafate) Side Effects
Common side effects of sucralfate include constipation. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects if they are severe or persist after a few days.
Some of the adverse effects of sucralfate are more serious, such as allergic reactions. Call your doctor right away or seek emergency medical help if you develop:
- Skin rash, hives, itching
- Swelling of the eyes, face, lips, tongue, throat
- Difficulty swallowing or breathing
The above list may not include all the adverse events associated with taking sucralfate. Contact your healthcare provider or seek medical attention if the adverse effects are unusual or severe or if they do not get better over time. You can also report unusual or severe adverse effects to the Food and Drug Administration at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Sucralfate (Carafate) Overdose: In case of an overdose of sucralfate, call your doctor immediately. You can also call your local poison control center or the national poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. Overdose symptoms may include stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, and indigestion.
Sucralfate Warnings
Sucralfate (Carafate) Risks, Warnings, and Complications
Sucralfate can cause or worsen health problems in some people. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other medications for duodenal ulcers if you are at an increased risk of adverse reactions from this drug.
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Precautions Before Starting Sucralfate (Carafate)
Tell your doctor if you have ever had an allergic reaction to sucralfate, any of the active or inactive ingredients in sucralfate tablets or oral suspension, or any other drugs. Your pharmacy can give you a list of ingredients.
Give your doctor and pharmacist a complete list of your medications, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, dietary supplements, and herbal products. This can help avoid possible interactions between sucralfate and your other medications.
Give your doctor a complete medical history. Sucralfate may not be right for people with certain medical conditions such as swallowing problems, diabetes, kidney disease, delayed gastric emptying, gastrointestinal disorders, and those receiving enteral feeding.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, could be pregnant, plan to get pregnant, or are breast feeding.
Precautions During Use of Sucralfate (Carafate)
Keep all your medical and lab appointments while on sucralfate. Tell your doctor if you have worsening symptoms. Follow your doctor’s dosing instructions carefully. Do not increase or decrease the dose, dosage frequency, or treatment duration without your doctor’s approval.
If you want to take antacids when you feel ulcer pain, make sure you take them at least one-half hour away from your sucralfate dose.
Tell your doctor if you become pregnant while on sucralfate.
Sucralfate (Carafate) Drug Interactions
Concomitant use of certain medicines with sucralfate can affect how the medicines work or cause serious adverse effects. Your doctor may tell you to time your medicines away from your sucralfate dose, change the doses, switch you to other medicines, and/or monitor you carefully for side effects. Some of the drugs that can interact with sucralfate include:
- Anticoagulants or blood thinners such as warfarin (Jantoven, Coumadin)
- H2 blockers such as cimetidine (Tagamet) and ranitidine (Zantac)
- Antibiotics such as cinoxacin (Cinobac), ciprofloxacin (Cipro), enoxacin (Penetrex), lomefloxacin (Maxaquin), nalidixic acid (NegGram), ofloxacin (Floxin), norfloxacin (Noroxin), sparfloxacin (Zagam), levofloxacin (Levaquin), and tetracycline
- Heart medications such as digoxin (Lanoxin)
- Antifungal drugs such as ketoconazole (Nizoral)
- Thyroid medications such as levothyroxine (Levoxyl, Levothroid, Synthroid)
- Anti-seizure medications such as phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek)
- Medications prescribed for heart rhythm abnormalities, such as quinidine
- Medications prescribed for chronic lung diseases, such as theophylline (Theo-24)
The above list may not include all the potential interactions of sucralfate. Give your doctor or pharmacist a complete list of your medications, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, nutritional supplements, and herbal remedies. Also, tell your healthcare professional if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs because some of these substances can cause serious health complications when used with prescription medications.
Sucralfate Pros & Cons
Sucralfate (Carafate) Pros and Cons
- Sucralfate is generally safe and well tolerated because it is not absorbed by the body.
- There is a lower-cost generic available.
- The liquid medicine form is convenient for people who have trouble swallowing tablets.
- You need to take sucralfate 4 times a day to treat an active ulcer.
- You have to take this medicine on an empty stomach.
- Sucralfate may not be safe for people with renal impairment (reduced kidney function).
- It can affect the absorption of other medicines from the digestive tract.
Sucralfate Pharmacist Tips
Sucralfate (Carafate) Tips from Pharmacists
Make sure you take sucralfate on an empty stomach. If there is food in your stomach when you take this medicine, it can prevent the drug from forming a protective layer over an active ulcer.
You need to take sucralfate at least 2 hours away from most other medications as it can affect how other medicines are absorbed.
Take antacids at least one-half hour away from your sucralfate dose.
Continue taking sucralfate even if you don’t feel ulcer pain.
Sucralfate oral suspension can cause an elevation of blood glucose levels. If you have diabetes, measure your blood sugar regularly and tell your doctor if you notice higher than usual readings.
Sucralfate Rx Savings Tips
Sucralfate (Carafate) Rx Savings Tips
Sucralfate is a generic medication and it is available at significantly lower prices than the brand name. Brand name Carafate and generic sucralfate contain the same medicine and are equally effective and safe. Like with most medications, the generic version offers better value. A BuzzRx sucralfate coupon can result in big savings on the brand name and generic forms of the drug. With a BuzzRx discount card, savings card, or discount coupons, the medication could cost you a fraction of retail prices. Sucralfate may be under $28.00 for 120 tablets of the 1 g dose at Walmart, Walgreens, Rite Aid, CVS Pharmacy, and other participating pharmacies with a BuzzRx discount card or free coupon. For the biggest discounts on sucralfate, give the checkout clerk your BuzzRx sucralfate discount coupon when you drop off your prescriptions.
Lowest Price for Sucralfate (Carafate) | |
| Brand $566.03 | Generic $27.43 |
VIEW DISCOUNTS Pricing based on most commonly-filled versions. Select the strength and quantity of your medication for the most accurate pricing. | |
Sucralfate Common Questions
Common Questions about Sucralfate (Carafate)
Is sucralfate an antacid?No, sucralfate is not an antacid. It is a protectant that helps ulcers heal by forming a protective covering over them. This medicine can also prevent the recurrence of a healed ulcer, but it does not prevent future ulcers from developing. |
When should you take sucralfate?You should take sucralfate on an empty stomach 2-4 times a day as prescribed. |
How long does it take sucralfate to heal an ulcer?It can take sucralfate 4-8 weeks to completely heal an ulcer. Do not stop taking the medicine without talking to your doctor, even if your symptoms appear to be better. |
Should sucralfate be taken long-term?Your healthcare professional may recommend taking sucralfate for up to 12 months to treat active ulcers and prevent the recurrence of healed ulcers. However, long-term use of sucralfate carries a risk of aluminum toxicity. Do not take this medicine for longer than prescribed by your doctor. |
Can I take sucralfate if I’m pregnant or breast feeding?There aren’t enough studies to say for sure if sucralfate is safe during pregnancy. Talk to your doctor about the pros and cons of taking this medicine if you’re pregnant. Sucralfate is not absorbed by the body and is generally considered safe while breast-feeding. |
What is the price of sucralfate without insurance?Without insurance, sucralfate can be as high as $74.32, but with a free BuzzRx prescription discount coupon, you could pay as low as $27.43 for the most common version of this medication. Use the BuzzRx drug price look-up tool to find the lowest discounted price, and be sure to enter the correct dosage, form, and quantity for the most accurate pricing. While generics tend to have the best savings, you can also use your BuzzRx card and coupons to purchase brand-name versions. It never hurts to ask your pharmacist to try BuzzRx when filling or refilling any of your prescription drugs—whether you have insurance or not. |
What is the price of sucralfate with insurance?Ask your pharmacist or insurance provider for your copay price on sucralfate—Copay amounts vary depending on the type of insurance plan you have and if there is a deductible to reach before prescription drug coverage begins. You could save up to 80% on your prescription medication with a free BuzzRx discount coupon for sucralfate. When using the BuzzRx lookup tool to find the price of your medicine, be sure to enter the correct dosage, form, and quantity to receive the most accurate discounted pricing. It never hurts to ask your pharmacist to try BuzzRx when filling or refilling any of your prescriptions—whether you have insurance or not. |
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