Ulcers CAN be cured.
More Info: If your peptic ulcer is caused by an infection with the Helicobacter pylori bacteria, which is the foremost cause of ulcers, then your ulcer can be cured with antibiotic treatment administered by your physician. While you are taking antibiotics to kill off the invasive bacteria, your doctor may prescribe additional medications to promote the healing of the damaged and irritated area in your stomach.
Antibiotic Treatments for Helicobacter Pylori
Your doctor will conduct a test to determine whether your ulcer is caused by Helicobacter pylori infection. If it is, you will receive a prescription for antibiotics that will kill the offending bacteria. In the United States, the most commonly prescribed antibiotic treatments to rid the stomach of Helicobacter pylori include amoxicillin, clarithromycin, metronidazole and tetracycline. These antibiotics are in different classes, so if you have an allergy to one type you may be able to try another type. You will need to take the antibiotics as prescribed for about two weeks to rid your body of the infection.
Other Medications for Stomach Ulcers
During and for a period of time after antibiotic treatment, you may also need to take medications that reduce the amount of acid in your stomach so that the ulcered area can heal. These types of medications include proton pump inhibitors and acid blockers. Your doctor may also recommend or prescribe supplements of calcium that neutralize stomach acid. If your ulcer was severe, you may need to take over the counter or prescription medications to protect the ulcered area your stomach from acidic foods until the ulcer is gone.
About four weeks after your treatment with antibiotics began, your doctor will check to see whether the Helicobacter pylori infection has been eliminated from your system. If it has not, you may need another round of antibiotics or a new medication.
“H. pylori and Peptic Ulcers – National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse.” National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Sept. 2012. http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/hpylori/>
“Peptic ulcer: Treatments and drugs – MayoClinic.com.” Mayo Clinic. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Sept. 2012. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/peptic-ulcer/DS00242/DSECTION=treatments-and-drugs .