Contents:
- Medical Video: Sore Throat | How To Get Rid Of A Sore Throat (2019)
- Overview of ulcer medication
- Why should ulcer medicine be chewed?
- What happens if you directly take ulcer medicine?
Medical Video: Sore Throat | How To Get Rid Of A Sore Throat (2019)
Ulcer drugs or antacid drugs are a class of drugs that function to neutralize acid in the stomach. Some people who have taken ulcer medication may also wonder why the ulcer drug should be chewed first? Does the ulcer medicine really have to be chewed? What happens if it's not chewed, but immediately swallowed? See below.
Overview of ulcer medication
Ulcer drugs or antacid drugs generally contain aluminum, calcium, magnesium or sodium bicarbonate. This content acts as an alkaline substance to fight high spikes in stomach acid and very low pH.
With the entry of antacid drugs into the stomach, the condition of acidic stomach pH that is too acidic can return to normal.
Basically, there are 2 preparations of antacid drugs, preparations in the form of liquid (syrup) and also in the form of tablets. There are also various kinds of antacid drugs in the form of tablets. Some are in the form of chewable tablets such as Bisodol, Maalox No. 1, and there are also types of drugs such as Riopan which are available in chewable tablets or tablets.
However, generally the ulcer medication must be chewed before swallowing.
Why should ulcer medicine be chewed?
Researchers from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center found that chewing ulcer drugs is safer to control acidity in the esophagus than to swallow antacid tablets.
In addition, research in Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics shows that the effectiveness of antacid drugs chewed will be better than those ingested.
The study was conducted on people who were previously fed stomach ulcer symptoms such as chili, cheese, raw onions, and carbonated drinks. An hour later, they were given chewable tablets, swallow tablets, and effervescent (water-soluble tablets).
After being seen, it turned out that the group using chewable and effervescent tablets was far more effective at preventing the onset of ulcer symptoms than those with swallowed tablets.
This is because when antacids are swallowed, this drug will pass through the stomach too quickly to neutralize the acid. Whereas, when you chew antacids, these destroyed antacids when entering the stomach are ready to work immediately, so this drug works more effectively balancing gastric pH. That is why the ulcer drug must be chewed first, then swallowed and drink water.
What happens if you directly take ulcer medicine?
Until now there was no danger of ingesting antacids directly. However, the consequences are that the effectiveness of ulcer drugs will decrease, and the healing process can also be more time-consuming because the drug does not work as effectively when chewed.
So, it is always better to follow the recommended medication use on the packaging or according to the instructions from the pharmacist. If you have trouble having to chew the medicine first, ask for preparations for ulcer medicine for your doctor or pharmacist.
