Carafate vs. Prilosec, Zegerid

• Are Carafate and Prilosec, Zegerid the Same Thing?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Carafate?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Prilosec, Zegerid?
• What is Carafate?
• What is Prilosec, Zegerid?
• What Drugs Interact with Carafate?
• What Drugs Interact with Prilosec, Zegerid?
• How Should Carafate Be Taken?
• How Should Prilosec, Zegerid Be Taken?

Carafate (sucralfate) and Prilosec (omeprazole) and Zegerid (omeprazole/sodium bicarbonate) are used to treat duodenal ulcers.

Prilosec and Zegerid are also used to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, which are caused by stomach acid.

Prilosec and Zegerid are available over-the-counter (OTC) and as a generic.

Carafate and Prilosec and Zegerid belong to different drug classes. Carafate is an anti-ulcer medication and Prilosec is a proton pump inhibitor (PPI). Zegerid also contains an antacid.

Side effects of Carafate and Prilosec and Zegerid that are similar include constipation, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, stomach or abdominal pain, gas, and headache.

Side effects of Carafate that are different from Prilosec and Zegerid include upset stomach, indigestion, dry mouth, itching or skin rash, sleep problems (insomnia), dizziness, drowsiness, spinning sensation, back pain, and hypersensitivity reactions (shortness of breath, lip swelling, and hives).

Side effects of Prilosec and Zegerid that are different from Carafate include fever and cold symptoms (stuffy nose, sneezing, and sore throat).

Both Carafate and Prilosec and Zegerid may interact with antibiotics, digoxin, blood thinners, and seizure medications.

Carafate may also interact with other oral drugs taken at the same time, cimetidine, levothyroxine, quinidine, ranitidine, and theophylline.

Prilosec and Zegerid may also interact with clopidogrel, methotrexate, St. John's wort, bosentan, citalopram, cyclosporine, diazepam or similar sedatives, digitalis, disulfiram, sodium polystyrene sulfonate, tacrolimus, antifungals, calcium supplements or iron supplements (including ferrous fumarate, ferrous gluconate, ferrous sulfonate), diuretics (water pills), and HIV medicines.

Common side effects of Carafate include:

• constipation,
• diarrhea,
• nausea,
• vomiting,
• upset stomach,
• stomach pain,
• indigestion,
• gas,
• dry mouth,
• itching or skin rash,
• sleep problems (insomnia),
• dizziness,
• drowsiness,
• spinning sensation,
• headache,
• back pain,
• or, hypersensitivity reactions (shortness of breath, lip swelling, and hives).

Common side effects of Prilosec, Zegerid include:

• headache,
• nausea,
• vomiting,
• diarrhea,
• stomach pain,
• gas,
• constipation,
• fever, or
• cold symptoms (stuffy nose, sneezing, and sore throat).

Carafate (sucralfate) is an anti-ulcer medication used to treat duodenal ulcers. Carafate is available in generic form.

Prilosec, Zegerid (omeprazole) is a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) used for the treatment of conditions such as ulcers, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, which are all caused by stomach acid.

Drug interactions of Carafate may include reactions with other drugs taken at the same time, preventing their full absorption. It is best to take other drugs 2 hours before or after sucralfate to avoid drug interactions. Tell your doctor if you are taking cimetidine, digoxin, levothyroxine, phenytoin, quinidine, ranitidine, tetracycline, theophylline, blood thinners, certain antibiotics, and all medications and supplements you use. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment with Carafate. Carafate is not expected to be harmful to a fetus. It is unknown if Carafate passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.

Prilosec may interact with digoxin, diuretics (water pills), blood thinners, antifungal medications such as ketoconazole, antibiotics such as ampicillin, iron, or methotrexate, and HIV or AIDS medications such as atazanavir and nelfinavir.

Prilosec may also interact with bosentan, cilostazol, clopidogrel, cyclosporine, diazepam, disulfiram, St. John's wort, tacrolimus, or seizure medications.

Carafate is administered orally in the form of tablets. Lower than usual dosages are recommended for elderly patients and adolescents.

The recommended adult oral dose of Prilosec ranges from 20 mg to 60 mg once daily, depending on the condition being treated. For maximal efficacy, Prilosec tablets should be taken before meals, swallowed whole and should not be crushed, chewed or opened.