Sucralfate and Constipation: What Users Say

• Sha...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 10, 2013

Sucralfate for Stomach Ulcer "Carafate worked miracles. I wasn't able to eat much while on it, but it did stop the pain from my ulcer. I didn't realize it, but it did make me constipated and I was really gassy, which in turn caused pain, but I would rather have gassy pain than the pain from the ulcer."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 29, 2013

Sucralfate for Stomach Ulcer "Carafate worked really well in calming the pain. I didn't have a problem with constipation as I was unable to eat solid food at that point, but after a couple of days of using it, I was actually able to eat for the first time in weeks."

• Car...
• November 15, 2020

Sucralfate for GERD "Carafate side effects are constipation, the best thing to do is take a stool softener before the last dose of Carafate in the evening. It works great. I did not read the side effects until the next day and had severe constipation in the morning. I am not a person that gets constipation, but this medication will do it very fast!"

• Mis...
• December 14, 2010

Sucralfate for Duodenal Ulcer "I have both an ulcer in my stomach as well as duodenitis (two ulcers in the upper part of my small intestine) -- this was all discovered during my endoscopy. I was given this medication and am still on it... immediately I had dry mouth, mild headaches, and that dizzy/vertigo feeling which I just thought were my sinuses acting up until I looked up the side effects. It's changed my bowel motions for sure, more towards constipation which then causes an upset stomach for me, mainly in the morning."

• Aqu...
• July 23, 2017

For Stomach Ulcer "I took the pill (awful to swallow) form for about 2 1/2 months... (per a pharmacist - I dissolved it in about an ounce of cold water, stirred and chugged it, then drank about 8 ounces of cold water). They dissolve in about ten seconds and have a nasty, chalky taste, but it has healed my gastritis, which was extremely painful. It started helping in about a week but took two months altogether to heal. The side effects were nausea, back and neck pain, constipation... lost weight because I was so sick before I started taking it. Good luck, everyone."

• tam...
• March 20, 2012

Sucralfate for Duodenal Ulcer "I have been on Carafate for almost 6 weeks for an ulcer. It has not helped me at all. I still have the extreme abdominal pain all night long. I was checked for H. pylori and it was negative. I had all kinds of ultrasounds done and they all came back fine. I was also given Dexilant to take. I take the Carafate 4 times a day and no luck for me. I am seeing another doctor today. It just is not working for me. And as others said, it does make you constipated for sure. I wish it worked for me like some of the others, but it is not."

• wnb...
• April 5, 2010

Sucralfate for Stomach Ulcer "This is a great medication for ulcer pain. But there is one major side effect that is intolerable, constipation. After using it for two days, my stool was so hard that it took 2 Fleet water enemas and a mineral oil enema just to get the stool down."

• IMA...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 14, 2016

For Duodenal Ulcer "After an endoscopy, I was diagnosed with a big duodenal ulcer. Not every day was painful, and the pain was lower, seemingly different from the symptoms that I had. But increasingly, a lot of days, the pain was almost intolerable. Healing has been a slow process, but steady. Going into week 4 of taking it, there is definite improvement. The pill is big, and yes, constipation is a problem. But this is easily remedied with extra fiber cereals or bulk fiber taken every day. This medication is without a doubt fantastic stuff. At first, I split the big tablet in half and swallowed it in 2 pieces, but now whole. I am very thankful for this medication, even with its inconveniences. I can tell the ulcer's healing, the pain gets better every day!"

• Hpy...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 7, 2016

For Stomach Ulcer "Had H. pylori. Caused a very painful ulcer in my upper abdomen. Took 40 mg of omeprazole a day as prescribed by my doc. Still had pain. Within about two days of using Carafate, I noticed an improvement. Here it is about my 5th week on it, and I really feel it has helped me. I am still on omeprazole too. The only side effects I have noted are a very occasional dizzy feeling that is short-lived, occasional headaches, and constipation only about three times in the last several weeks. I do eat high fiber and try to get several fruits and veggies a day, as well as I have increased my water intake. The schedule of 4x a day - 2-3 hours after a meal and 1 hour before a meal has taken some getting used to, but it is totally worth it. I hope to be able to stop soon."

• Une...
• June 13, 2017

For GERD "I suffer from acid reflux terribly. Had my gallbladder taken out because they thought that was the pain I was having. Still, years later and the same pain. After many antacids, they decided to try me on Prevacid 30 mg with sucralfate 4 times a day. The first month worked great. I was slightly constipated off and on. Itchy the first day. Started a second month and the doctor allowed me to take 3 times a day as rules and restrictions for taking sucralfate are almost impossible 4 times a day. This time I have had diarrhea for the past 3 weeks nonstop and felt lightheaded and dizzy. I will be stopping the sucralfate."

• ouc...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 31, 2022

Sucralfate for Stomach Ulcer "Doctor prescribed Carafate. 4 x a day. Works well if I take it at night and in the morning, but if I take the two day doses, I spend the day in bed. Nauseous, and it destroys my appetite. Seems to make the burning stomach worse. Suffering with gastritis for 6 months now. Can’t find relief. Also on Protonix and Tagamet. Bland diet when I can eat. Just seeking relief. It has made me really constipated as well. Will continue with the two doses, but can’t handle all 4."

• sto...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 6, 2022

For Stomach Ulcer "Given to me for what they guessed was an ulcer at the ER. Horrid headaches, makes my stomach hurt, leaves me nauseous for days after 1 dose (couldn't ever take it 4x a day as written), constipation, increased hunger, and urgency in urination increasing. I never had a test to confirm an ulcer. This med is awful for me."

• MyS...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 12, 2022

For Stomach Ulcer "I was prescribed sucralfate from my primary doctor after a sharp pain under my left breast. The dose was 3x/day, 1 hr before meals. After reading reviews of possible constipation, I decided to only try twice a day dosing, in the morning and before bed. At first, it seemed to help, but after the 3rd day, I kept noticing a burning sensation in my esophagus where I had no pain before. It was worse at night! It sort of radiated between my esophagus and my stomach (pain under my breast). I kept thinking it was just the ulcer, so I kept taking it. However, on day 5, I stopped because I wasn’t getting better. I decided to do natural remedies and just heal my ulcer. Cabbage juice has been proven to heal ulcers! Jay Kordich (the juice man from the 90s) did a study with a doctor from Stanford that proved it heals ulcers. This documentation is all over the Internet. Even a YouTube of Jay Kordich talking about the study. I hope this helps to heal someone else, as I am getting better!"

• Sas...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 6, 2020

For Duodenal Ulcer Prophylaxis "Sucralfate works okay. I'm not sure if I want to continue taking this with my gastroparesis. This medication causes constipation. Gastroparesis slows down digestion, having this medication just sitting around in my stomach makes me fear getting a bezoar. I also think it slows down my digestion even more. Erythromycin worked best for my illness compared to this medication. Unfortunately, you cannot be on antibiotics for too long, or else it affects its effect. Overall, I'm somewhat satisfied with this. If you have trouble swallowing, just dissolve it in some water and drink it that way. I used a pill crusher, then I mixed it into some water. It's really disgusting and chalky, but not too bad."

• Gin...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 13, 2025

Sucralfate for Duodenal Ulcer "I have a lot going on. I have GERD, IBS, stomach ulcers, hiatal hernia. I had an upper GI, and the doctor put me on Carafate. At first, I’ll be honest, it took me over a year to go forward with taking this medication, and I’ll tell you right now it’s a miracle drug! The fact that it makes you constipated is a plus for me, my diarrhea was insane since my gallbladder surgery, and because I’m on this medication, I have no diarrhea. It’s been 3 weeks! So it’s helping me in all areas of my issues. I don’t get any side effects as of yet, and hopefully, I will not!"

• gig...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 4, 2023

For GERD "I have extreme GERD. Very extreme, up all night GERD. Burning, chest pain, etc. But this medication, after many pill failures, seems to work. Only issue is it killed my taste buds and locked me up, so had to stop taking it for a day or so. But I must say it's worked. I have the liquid version, and it's expensive for the bottle(s) - 300 bucks. But glad I have insurance."

• 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."

• Car...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 6, 2023

Sucralfate for GERD "I do not recommend it. It caused extreme constipation and bloating for me and provided little to no relief for epigastric burning compared to liquid antacids. It is expensive in liquid form."