Carafate


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Generic Name: sucralfate (oral)
(soo KRAL fate)

What is Carafate?

Carafate is an anti-ulcer medication.

Carafate is not greatly absorbed into the body through the digestive tract. It works mainly in the lining of the stomach by adhering to ulcer sites and protecting them from acids, enzymes, and bile salts.

Carafate is used to treat an active duodenal ulcer. Sucralfate can heal an active ulcer, but it will not prevent future ulcers from occurring.

Carafate may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What is the most important information I should know about Carafate?

Before taking Carafate, tell your doctor if you have kidney disease (or if you are on dialysis). You may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take sucralfate.

Take Carafate on an empty stomach, at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal.

Take Carafate for the full prescribed length of time. Your symptoms may improve before the ulcer is completely cleared.

Avoid taking any other medications at the same time you take Carafate. It is best not to take other medicines within 2 hours before or after taking sucralfate.

Avoid using antacids without your doctor's advice. Use only the specific type of antacid your doctor recommends. Antacids contain different medicines and some types can make it harder for Carafate to work in your stomach.

If your doctor does recommend using an antacid, avoid taking it within 30 minutes before or after taking Carafate.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Carafate?

Before taking Carafate, tell your doctor if you have kidney disease (or if you are on dialysis). You may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take sucralfate.

FDA pregnancy category B. This medication is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

It is not known whether Carafate passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I take Carafate?

Take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take it in larger amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

Take Carafate with a full glass of water.

Take Carafate on an empty stomach, at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal.

Shake the oral suspension (liquid) well just before you measure a dose. To be sure you get the correct dose, measure the liquid with a marked measuring spoon or medicine cup, not with a regular table spoon. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one.

Take this medication for the full prescribed length of time. Your symptoms may improve before the ulcer is completely cleared.

Store Carafate at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then to take the medicine and skip the missed dose. Do nottake extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.

An overdose of Carafate is not likely to produce life-threatening symptoms.

What should I avoid while taking Carafate?

Avoid taking any other medications at the same time you take Carafate. It is best not to take other medicines within 2 hours before or after taking sucralfate.

Avoid using antacids without your doctor's advice. Use only the specific type of antacid your doctor recommends. Antacids contain different medicines and some types can make it harder for Carafate to work in your stomach.

If your doctor does recommend using an antacid, avoid taking it within 30 minutes before or after taking Carafate.

What are the possible side effects of Carafate?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Less serious side effects may include:

  • nausea, vomiting, indigestion
  • stomach pain
  • constipation, diarrhea
  • mild itching or skin rash
  • sleep problems (insomnia)
  • dizziness, drowsiness, spinning sensation
  • headache; or
  • back pain.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect Carafate?

Taking Carafate can make it harder for your body to absorb many other medications, especially:

  • cimetidine (Tagamet)
  • digoxin (digitalis, Lanoxin)
  • levothyroxine (Synthroid)
  • phenytoin (Dilantin)
  • quinidine (Quinaglute, Quinidex, Quin-Release)
  • ranitidine (Zantac)
  • tetracycline (Brodspec, Panmycin, Sumycin, Tetracap)
  • theophylline (Elixophyllin, Respbid, Slo-Bid, Theo-Dur, and others)
  • a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin); or
  • certain antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin (Cipro), levofloxacin (Levaquin), lomefloxacin (Maxaquin), ketoconazole (Nizoral), and others.

This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with Carafate. Tell your doctor about all your prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about Carafate.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Copyright 1996-2009 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 6.03. Revision Date: 4/12/2009.