Sucralfate

Medically Reviewed by Dr. Harshi Dhingra, M.D.

Last Reviewed: Dec 13, 2023

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.

RISK IN PATIENTS WITH RENAL IMPAIRMENT: When you take sucralfate orally, small amounts of aluminum are absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. People with normal kidney function taking the recommended doses of sucralfate and other aluminum-containing medications are able to excrete (get rid of) aluminum in urine. However, people with reduced kidney function, such as those with chronic renal failure or those on dialysis, are at risk of developing high aluminum levels. Signs and symptoms of aluminum toxicity can include muscle weakness, bone pain, confusion, and seizures. Older adults and people with kidney problems should consult their doctor for medical advice about whether sucralfate is safe for them.

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.

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