Sucralfate and Vomiting: What Users Say

• Anonymous
• June 6, 2018

Sucralfate for GERD "I am only 18 years old. Unfortunately, I had to get my gallbladder out in January of 2018. I had to put school on pause because after surgery, the nausea got even worse. I’ve been living off of Zofran and Promethazine for 5 months now, every day, sometimes twice a day. I have a huge fear of vomiting and will avoid it at all costs. I was finally referred to a GI doc and proceeded with an endoscopy. I was told it is very likely I have bile salt gastritis, a complication from gallbladder removal. I was told to start CARAFATE and have had the WORST experience. Not only does it make you feel absolutely full, but it had reverse effects on me. It was supposed to bind with the bile found in my stomach and relieve me, but it’s actually making me feel sick. I feel nauseous, I am vomiting, and feel extremely weak while taking this medicine. As an 18-year-old who is paying her own medical bills and working hard, I’m EXTREMELY frustrated and feeling hopeless, and don’t know where to go from here."

• Sel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 10, 2020

For GERD "I was prescribed this as sort of a band-aid while waiting to see if I had an ulcer. Went through a lot of medications and ended up being prescribed this one. Before, my heartburn would be bad enough to always cause nausea and sometimes vomiting. This made it worse. The first night I took it, it did work, but my stomach felt very full and bloated. The next night was the same, but that morning I vomited it all up painfully. I stopped taking it that day. I want to say too, none of the three doctors I spoke to believed me and denied this was a side effect. Be aware this might happen. 0/10 would not do again."

• Ric...
• October 13, 2019

For Stomach Ulcer "I was prescribed sucralfate due to intolerance to other ulcer medicine. At first, it worked wonders. I took it for 1 week before I had to stop. I take Tylenol/Advil round the clock for pain. I would say about day 3 I started to notice a dull headache about an hour after taking. For the next 4 days, the headaches seemed to get worse. Also, I noticed back/upper torso pain. It was like a tightness burning sensation. I was also very gassy. Burping/Vomiting (vomiting a little bit while burping) was common. I seriously considered going to the ER. Maybe it’s the drug... maybe it’s me?"

• Lij...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 9, 2019

Sucralfate for GERD "I have acid reflux after gallbladder removal. I tried the Carafate suspension, and it made me vomit. The pills appear to be working, but I still take Zantac. My pharmacist told me to dissolve the tablet in 1/4 cup of water for 15 minutes."

• Oma...
• August 5, 2019

For GERD "This med is impossible to take, especially if you have several other prescriptions since they don’t absorb and work properly when the Carafate coats your stomach. Get up at 8, take my HB and other meds, wait one hour to take the Carafate, take the Carafate at 9, wait two hours, eat breakfast at 11. Can’t fit in lunch and dinner. Insomnia, lightheadedness, and slight nausea the first two weeks, but I continued to take it since many times your body adjusts and side effects pass. Yesterday morning, I took it and within 20 min the dizziness set in, an hour later the room was spinning and I was vomiting and dry heaving the rest of the day. Could not walk or stand up. Husband had to carry me to the bathroom. Worst feeling I’ve EVER had. Still dizzy today but better. No more for me."

• Oma...
• August 5, 2019

For GERD "This med is impossible to take, especially if you have several other prescriptions since they don’t absorb and work properly when the Carafate coats your stomach. Get up at 8, take my HB and other meds, wait one hour to take the Carafate, take the Carafate at 9, wait two hours, eat breakfast at 11. Can’t fit in lunch and dinner. Insomnia, lightheadedness, and slight nausea the first two weeks, but I continued to take it since many times your body adjusts and side effects pass. Yesterday morning, I took it and within 20 min the dizziness set in, an hour later the room was spinning and I was vomiting and dry heaving the rest of the day. Could not walk or stand up. Husband had to carry me to the bathroom. Worst feeling I’ve EVER had. Still dizzy today but better. No more for me."

• bev...
• September 6, 2016

For Duodenal Ulcer "Very effective for duodenal ulcer flare-up. My only criticism is that they dissolve in your mouth before you can swallow any water to wash them down, and I have almost choked on them, which is very scary. The company needs to provide a thicker coating, even if it delays the quick effectiveness. I just coated one with butter, and it went down more smoothly, with lots of ice water, but I still felt it hang up in my esophagus, which almost made me gag. I think this could be dangerous. The other night it really scared me, as it got stuck on the way down, and I coughed and gagged and drank water, but it was stubborn."

• PJe...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 21, 2019

For GERD "This pill flakes and crumbles as soon as I get a sip of water in my mouth, making it difficult and painful to swallow. I've choked on it several times and even threw up today. (I didn't throw up the pill, though-it was still stuck in my throat!) I called my pharmacy, and they recommended crushing the pill and mixing it with some applesauce-I'm gonna guess not too much, though, since you're supposed to take this med on an empty stomach. But one or two spoonfuls may be better than choking or not being able to take the med at all. Good luck if you take it! I can't say how well it's working because my condition was not causing any pain."

• Ala...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 1, 2018

Sucralfate for Stomach Ulcer "Late last year, I went to my doctor because I was having mild stomach pains, little to no appetite, and (the worst and most concerning one for me) completely randomly feeling like I was going to vomit; to the point where I actually had to go to the bathroom or outside, but never did. (Might just be because I have a strong stomach that I didn’t?). And then right after that passed, I would feel extremely hungry - stomach growling and hunger pains. But still no appetite. That was very concerning to me considering I very rarely vomit for any reason. So anyway, I went to the doctor and he told me I had most of the symptoms of an ulcer and he was sure that’s what it was. He prescribed me this medication. I never had any tests or anything done to see inside my stomach or anything though. But I took it as prescribed, and the symptoms went away for a few days but then came back. And now it keeps coming back. Seeing the doctor soon and going to ask for a different medication."

• Ulc...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 10, 2022

For Stomach Ulcer "I have a lot of erosion in my upper stomach and I am in pain, nauseated, dry heaving. The swelling is so bad it makes it so hard on my breathing, especially since I have emphysema. It’s hard to eat because I feel so awful afterward. I didn’t know to dissolve the pill in some water. I tried swallowing the first pill, it got stuck right away. I kept choking. It got stuck three different times before I finally got it to go down. Very scary. So please dissolve. I’ve taken one last night and four today along with 40 mg Nexium. I started feeling very dizzy this afternoon, and my back is in severe pain. I won’t be taking anymore. I guess I’ll just be eating very little when I can handle it. Baby food worked before. Good luck, everyone."

• Mft...
• January 2, 2019

For Stress Ulcer Prophylaxis "I was excited to get this medicine because my stomach was feeling full and empty and hurting a lot even after I had just eaten or two hours after I had eaten. My doctor thinks it's an ulcer, which I noticed stress and cigarettes hurt the worst of anything, followed by having an empty stomach. Now on to the carafate, which can only be taken on an empty stomach. Unfortunately, half the time I take this, within a half an hour, I'm vomiting. I couldn't have taken this drug when I was drastically underweight a year ago, or I wouldn't have been able to gain weight at all. You definitely need a zofran with this medication to control the nausea. I hope it goes well and I can finish four to eight weeks of this. It is the worst medicine I've ever taken. And, since I need zantac and Prilosec every day for the acid reflux, managing to take the medication without these drugs as well as on an empty stomach is very difficult. Why can't it be taken with smoothie or ice cream?"

• Sas...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 29, 2020

For Stomach Ulcer "The doctor put me on sucralfate, and at first, it seemed to be helping. I take 20 other pills a day plus this one 4 times a day. I find it hard to eat as I feel like vomiting. I just feel so wiped out since I am on it. I am working on diet changes, which I find hard but has to be done. I am 57 years old, and this started when I was in my 30s due to the doctor giving me the wrong pills, so now I have had to deal with this off and on for 20+ years. I get a lot of pain in my chest. This is my second time on this medication."

• WAR...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 28, 2022

For Stomach Ulcer "I was put on sucralfate immediately after I was diagnosed with my large stomach ulcer and my awful GERD that I had been dealing with, both of these medical problems that were very much so both agonizing and extremely debilitating to me. I've been on sucralfate for between 3-5 years now, and at first it seemed to be a wonder drug for me and seemed to continue to do so for the most part, but over this past year I've been seeming to have a lot of stomach problems. I'm constantly belching, and they absolutely have the most terrible odor to them, they smell just like sulfur. My stomach is in horrible pain all of the time. I'm ALWAYS, ALWAYS nauseous or vomiting. I've lost 50 lbs because either I can't eat because I'm right on the verge of vomiting or I get it down and it just comes right back up again, and this includes fluids too. So I'm battling these issues right now and never even thought that sucralfate might be part of the issues that I've got going on right now with me until NOW."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 25, 2022

For Duodenal Ulcer "Husband experiencing terrible pain when taking small amounts of sucralfate. Thought it was to help, not make him feel even worse. Was in hospital several times since April, rehab center who over-drugged him, and stomach issues up the kazoo since coming home. Every time he attempts to eat anything small, he needs to spit up or vomit. What is going on... it’s not helping him and he wants to eat. Has not eaten in nearly two months of anything substantial."

• cam...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 18, 2022

For GERD "I've been literally choking on this pill twice a day for a week now. I’ve heard you’re supposed to just crush it into a slurry, but I don’t always have a lot of time in the morning, so I’ve just been swallowing it. I take HUGE drinks of water with the pill to try and ease it down, but it gets stuck in my throat EVERY TIME. It is so scary and painful and has made me throw up twice now. How have they not changed this? There are people out there who have much more difficulty swallowing than me, and I can’t even imagine what it’s like for them to try and take this pill. If you get prescribed this pill, DO NOT TRY TO SWALLOW IT. Just listen to everyone else and crush it and mix it into a slurry. It’s absolutely ridiculous."

• Tbl...
• January 9, 2021

For GERD "Taking sucralfate for 7 days, and I feel worse. Constipation is a mess, vomiting, nausea, short of breath, lethargic. Lost much weight. Anything else out there? Also, I have heartburn bad."