If you or a loved one has just heard about Sucralfate and alcohol dependency, you are probably asking “What is it and how does it affect me?” The most common sign of alcohol abuse is withdrawal. This is where the person feels very uncomfortable and ill from their drinking and alcohol dependence. It is not uncommon for family members to notice that the person has become grumpy, moody and withdrawn, and they may begin to question what is going on. If the person is drinking heavily then this can be frightening to the individual but there is help for those who suffer from alcohol addiction.

The chemical name of sucralfate is N-acetyl-l-glucosamine. This is a naturally occurring substance in the body called mucopolysac-carhides. It works similar to some medications that affect sugar and gastric emptying. By increasing the speed with which food moves from the stomach into the small intestine it can reduce the time that sugar is absorbed into the bloodstream and stops the surge of chemicals caused by gastric acid that causes a feeling of fullness. In the US the recommended daily intake is 3 grams for adults.

Two conditions are mentioned above that are commonly associated with sucralfate and alcohol consumption and that is gastric ulcer and irritable bowel syndrome. Gastric ulcer is an ulcer in the stomach. It occurs when the lining of the stomach and duodenum becomes inflamed. Irritable bowel syndrome is a functional disorder of the large bowel or colon that include constipation, diarrhea and abdominal bloating. In the recent past the main cause of irritable bowel syndrome was Helicobacter pylori, the bacterium that often resides in the gut of dogs.

dangers of mixing Sucralfate And Alcohol

When taking Sucralfate and alcohol together a few things need to be considered. First if you are allergic to sucralfate, you should notify your doctor or pharmacist before taking the combination. In such case the drug would be stopped and you should use another anti-acids to re-calculate the level of acid in the stomach. If you are not allergic to sucralfate and alcohol and you decide to take them together the most important thing to do is not to exceed the maximum recommended intake of 500 milligrams per day as prescribed by the manufacturer. This is the maximum level of sugar that the drug has been designed to prevent the absorption of sugars into the gastrointestinal tract.

Other drugs that may interact with Sucralfate or Alcohol should also be considered when these drugs are taken together. Some examples of drugs that may interact with Sucralfate are anti-seizure drugs, anti-inflammatory medications such as aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as niacin and lortab. It is important that you check with your doctor before starting any new prescription or over the counter drug to ensure that it will not interact with Sucralfate or other anti-acids.

The exact mechanism whereby sucralfate and alcohol cause an ulcer is not clearly known. However, a possible correlation has been made between the two. As the drug interacts with the gastric acid levels in the stomach, it can increase the production of stomach cells that may become abnormal. This abnormal cell growth in the stomach may eventually ulcerate. Therefore, it is very important to take Sucralfate only after consulting your doctor to determine the exact mechanism of action.

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