Sucralfate and Nausea: What Users Say

• She...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 14, 2020

Sucralfate for GERD "Three years ago I had my gallbladder removed. That was the start of daily stomach aches, nausea (Bile reflux gastritis). I have a really good gastroenterologist who put me on several meds until we finally settled with sucralfate. I've been on it for 10 months and love it. Yes, there are still some aches but nothing like before. I give it a 10!"

• Anonymous
• June 6, 2018

Sucralfate for GERD "I am only 18 years old. Unfortunately, I had to get my gallbladder out in January of 2018. I had to put school on pause because after surgery, the nausea got even worse. I’ve been living off of Zofran and Promethazine for 5 months now, every day, sometimes twice a day. I have a huge fear of vomiting and will avoid it at all costs. I was finally referred to a GI doc and proceeded with an endoscopy. I was told it is very likely I have bile salt gastritis, a complication from gallbladder removal. I was told to start CARAFATE and have had the WORST experience. Not only does it make you feel absolutely full, but it had reverse effects on me. It was supposed to bind with the bile found in my stomach and relieve me, but it’s actually making me feel sick. I feel nauseous, I am vomiting, and feel extremely weak while taking this medicine. As an 18-year-old who is paying her own medical bills and working hard, I’m EXTREMELY frustrated and feeling hopeless, and don’t know where to go from here."

• Wil...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 17, 2020

For GERD "I was prescribed sucralfate for GERD a couple of weeks ago. I have been careful to take it exactly as instructed. At first, it was fine, but with each successive day, I started to feel more and more nausea, stomach, and back pain in the evenings. The stomach pain feels like fullness and trapped gas that you can't get out. Last night it was so bad it kept me up most of the night. I called the doctor this morning, and she advised stopping the sucralfate to see if it's the issue. From what I've read, troublesome side effects with sucralfate are rare, but when they do happen, it's the same kind of stomach pain and back pain that I've had, so maybe I just don't tolerate this drug well."

• Sel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 10, 2020

For GERD "I was prescribed this as sort of a band-aid while waiting to see if I had an ulcer. Went through a lot of medications and ended up being prescribed this one. Before, my heartburn would be bad enough to always cause nausea and sometimes vomiting. This made it worse. The first night I took it, it did work, but my stomach felt very full and bloated. The next night was the same, but that morning I vomited it all up painfully. I stopped taking it that day. I want to say too, none of the three doctors I spoke to believed me and denied this was a side effect. Be aware this might happen. 0/10 would not do again."

• Ger...
• February 3, 2021

Sucralfate for GERD "I was put on the brand name of Carafate liquid for mainly GERD. This drug works better than the Prevacid I was taking two times a day. I only take the Prevacid once a day now because the Carafate works so well for me. It can be hard to schedule because I have to take both an iron supplement and Vitamin D. But I finally found the best time to fit those in. My question is... starting this month, my insurance company will no longer pay for the brand name. I tried the generic liquid about a year ago, and it had a banana taste to it. All my life, I have been unable to even smell bananas without getting nauseated, or when I was a kid, just the smell and taste made me throw up. The pharmacy tried adding flavors to it... it just tastes like grapes and bananas, lol. But this year, Carafate is not even on the prior approval list. There is no way I can pay for this without insurance. I don't know what to do... has anyone ever switched from the liquid to the pill form and had the same results as the brand name liquid?"

• 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."

• Mis...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 4, 2023

For GERD "If you are sensitive to medicine like me, I would be careful. I was given the liquid and was kind of happy about that because I read how the pill makes you feel like you're choking. Well, the liquid also does that. The first day that I started it, it felt like I had a golf ball lodged in my throat after swallowing it. It caused me to have severe anxiety. I thought my throat was closing, but it just left this feeling of something lodged in my throat for probably an hour or two. I kept chugging water. I was shaking and crying. I continued with it because I thought I would feel better once I got used to it. I've been having such bad stomach pains and problems being able to eat anything, and I am hungry all the time from not being able to eat. The doctor insisted this would help. The next day, same thing, but worse. I feel like I couldn't even move at all. My body feels heavy, and walking to the bathroom was a chore. I feel like I can't breathe, my heart is racing, extremely lethargic, and I have burning, nauseous pain in my stomach, making things worse."

• Sop...
• June 9, 2020

For GERD "I started taking this about two months ago. I had major stomach issues, constantly puking, not keeping anything down, so much so that it caused some damage. Anyway, they put me on sucralfate. I crush it up, put it in my water, drink it (which it’s really gross, like drinking baby powder), and wait an hour or two before eating. My side effects so far are nausea, sore throat, and stomach cramp if I don’t eat an hour after taking it. It doesn’t work 100% for me, but I’m just grateful I can eat somewhat again, even if I’m not completely better. I’m willing to deal with the side effects, what I was going through prior to taking this medication was far worse. I noticed when I stopped taking this medication, I start to feel the GERD coming back, the burning and the throat spasms. So try out this medication if nothing else is working for you, everyone reacts differently."

• Bel...
• November 3, 2017

Sucralfate for Stomach Ulcer "I suffer from anxiety and have been having stomach issues for like 8 months. Went to the GI, they wanted to perform an endoscopy, but I'm 9 weeks pregnant, which makes things even worse. I have bad upper stomach pain, really bad burning on stomach and chest. I had to come off my antacid because I'm doing a breath test to test for H. pylori. So my GI prescribed Carafate 1 mg, 4 times a day. Took my first dose at 11 PM, fell asleep around 12:30 AM. Woke up at 2 AM feeling really nauseous, back pain, really bad tummy ache, headache, and this went on for like 4 more hours, and to make things worse, it got me anxious. Calling my doctor today, not happy with the side effects, plus I'm feeling really weak. Don't know if I should keep taking it."

• Ash...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 10, 2022

For Stomach Ulcer "The medication was the worst. The first dose, within an hour, I felt better. However, doses 2-3-4 made me feel much worse. I could not sleep and had bad insomnia and nausea. The following morning, I ended up falling asleep for maybe an hour, and I woke up in the most unimaginable pain I have ever felt in my life. My stomach was on fire, and I felt so sick. I was shaking, the pain was so bad. I took one more dose and realized it was the Carafate. I decided to stop it after only a day. The next day, I woke up and felt so nauseous and like my insides were on fire. The nausea eventually subsided by the afternoon, I was still able to eat very little. This morning was much better and way less pain. I know others have posted that it was helpful, but it was not for me."

• Oma...
• August 5, 2019

For GERD "This med is impossible to take, especially if you have several other prescriptions since they don’t absorb and work properly when the Carafate coats your stomach. Get up at 8, take my HB and other meds, wait one hour to take the Carafate, take the Carafate at 9, wait two hours, eat breakfast at 11. Can’t fit in lunch and dinner. Insomnia, lightheadedness, and slight nausea the first two weeks, but I continued to take it since many times your body adjusts and side effects pass. Yesterday morning, I took it and within 20 min the dizziness set in, an hour later the room was spinning and I was vomiting and dry heaving the rest of the day. Could not walk or stand up. Husband had to carry me to the bathroom. Worst feeling I’ve EVER had. Still dizzy today but better. No more for me."

• Man...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 7, 2018

For Duodenal Ulcer "I have suffered from acid reflux my entire life and finally got an upper endoscopy done, which revealed I have gastritis, duodenal ulcers, and a hiatal hernia. I was prescribed this medication and have only been taking it for a day and a half and feel absolutely horrible. Not only does my stomach feel worse than when I started taking it, I feel incredibly nauseous at night and in the morning, right when I’m about to take my next dose. Sick to my stomach, hot flashes, dizzy, etc. I’m hoping that I see improvement in my stomach in a few days, but otherwise I am seriously considering calling my doctor and trying to get off of this. I have been off of work since starting the medication, but I’m terrified of having to go back to the office feeling this way. I lay in bed for at least an hour or two before I go to sleep and before I can get up in the morning because I feel so ill."

• Oka...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 5, 2020

Sucralfate for GERD "Okay at first, then I started to notice some side effects from Carafate. I am a young adult who started taking this after being hospitalized for swallowing difficulties. My main issue now is gastroparesis. I noticed taking this medication increased my lack of appetite and nausea, it also made it hard to swallow. I haven’t taken this medication in about a month. My appetite is back, but my throat spasms are back also. This medication helped with the esophagus spasms I was having, that’s about all it helped with. I will ask my doctor to put me on other medication. I had the liquid suspension and also the pill, I crushed the pill up and made a slurry."

• Ulc...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 17, 2020

For Stomach Ulcer "I took sucralfate for my stomach ulcer for about a week. Had slight insomnia, headaches, and nausea. But it really helped with the burning pain from the ulcer. I could eat, so I was happy. But then, all of a sudden, I started getting crazy back pain. An intense burning and tight feeling in my chest and back whenever I would try and bend forward, move my neck, or even take a breath. Love the instant ulcer relief. Hate the side effects!"

• Sop...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 27, 2020

For GERD "I started taking this after leaving the hospital for severe acid reflux and hypokalemia. It has helped with the constant gagging, I couldn't eat anything with my throat spasming. I noticed when I stop taking this medication, my throat starts to spasm again. I have a pill crusher, I crush the pill and stir it in water. My doctor and pharmacist said it's fine to do it that way. The only downside is the side effects I've had so far, which are a bit of a sore throat and nausea. The nausea only lasts an hour, then I'm good to go. The sore throat is off and on again. I've tried so many acid reflux pills, and my acid reflux is still bad but not as bad as it was when I was in the hospital with the constant throwing up. My chest and throat get real tight after eating, this helps a bit with that. I just wish there was a medication that could permanently cure this torture. I'll keep taking this for right now until I speak to my GI."

• Ulc...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 10, 2022

For Stomach Ulcer "I have a lot of erosion in my upper stomach and I am in pain, nauseated, dry heaving. The swelling is so bad it makes it so hard on my breathing, especially since I have emphysema. It’s hard to eat because I feel so awful afterward. I didn’t know to dissolve the pill in some water. I tried swallowing the first pill, it got stuck right away. I kept choking. It got stuck three different times before I finally got it to go down. Very scary. So please dissolve. I’ve taken one last night and four today along with 40 mg Nexium. I started feeling very dizzy this afternoon, and my back is in severe pain. I won’t be taking anymore. I guess I’ll just be eating very little when I can handle it. Baby food worked before. Good luck, everyone."

• Lor...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 20, 2019

For Stomach Ulcer "I've just started taking it, but it gets stuck in your throat and will not go down. Oh, what a horrible feeling. I've only taken it for 2 days, but just can't do it anymore, and I've tried everything. I see from this site there is a liquid form. I'm asking for that! Be careful swallowing this pill!"

• Tha...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 23, 2020

For GERD "Been in and out of the ER for the past two weeks with undiagnosed esophageal pain. My doctor decided to put me on sucralfate. 'Try this,' he says, 'take it before meals and it will alleviate your pain,' he says. I took it at 11:00 a.m., and in addition to the nausea, the pain has slowly gotten worse, and I am in complete agony at this point. Do not take this medication."

• Ann...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 2, 2018

For Stomatitis "Took my chest and back pain away, which were intense from the GERD. However, I was barely able to stand up and walk to and from the bathroom by day 4 without feeling dizzy and nauseous. I felt forgetful, and the vertigo was becoming debilitating. I do not recommend this for anything other than treating the actual ulcer if and when it’s diagnosed through an upper GI series."

• Mft...
• January 2, 2019

For Stress Ulcer Prophylaxis "I was excited to get this medicine because my stomach was feeling full and empty and hurting a lot even after I had just eaten or two hours after I had eaten. My doctor thinks it's an ulcer, which I noticed stress and cigarettes hurt the worst of anything, followed by having an empty stomach. Now on to the carafate, which can only be taken on an empty stomach. Unfortunately, half the time I take this, within a half an hour, I'm vomiting. I couldn't have taken this drug when I was drastically underweight a year ago, or I wouldn't have been able to gain weight at all. You definitely need a zofran with this medication to control the nausea. I hope it goes well and I can finish four to eight weeks of this. It is the worst medicine I've ever taken. And, since I need zantac and Prilosec every day for the acid reflux, managing to take the medication without these drugs as well as on an empty stomach is very difficult. Why can't it be taken with smoothie or ice cream?"

• 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."

• Car...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 24, 2019

"About 10 days ago, I went to the ER because I was regurgitating the food or drink I had. I wouldn’t even call it vomiting because I could taste the acid, and the food would come up from the slightest burp. My chest was burning and aching; my stomach felt like it had a hot feeling. I’ve been on the liquid form of sucralfate since at a dose of 4x a day, 5 ml, plus Prevacid twice a day. It’s helped a lot. Some days I’ll have nausea, but that could’ve been because I ate something I shouldn’t have. The only side effect I’ve been having is it seems to be affecting my asthma. I’ve been coughing my head off. Hoping it’s an unrelated condition that will go away because the medicine has helped me a lot otherwise. Best of luck to everyone."

• 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."

• Lia...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 4, 2021

For Duodenal Ulcer "I feel really sick, particularly in the morning after taking the medicine. I believe it's helping, though, because I've only puked once in the past 2 months, and I used to puke anywhere from once to five times a day. It's really hard to fight the nausea and not puke up the pills. I can't tell if my ulcer is healing, either, because I still feel nauseous so often. I'm on the last month, so fingers crossed."

• WAR...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 28, 2022

For Stomach Ulcer "I was put on sucralfate immediately after I was diagnosed with my large stomach ulcer and my awful GERD that I had been dealing with, both of these medical problems that were very much so both agonizing and extremely debilitating to me. I've been on sucralfate for between 3-5 years now, and at first it seemed to be a wonder drug for me and seemed to continue to do so for the most part, but over this past year I've been seeming to have a lot of stomach problems. I'm constantly belching, and they absolutely have the most terrible odor to them, they smell just like sulfur. My stomach is in horrible pain all of the time. I'm ALWAYS, ALWAYS nauseous or vomiting. I've lost 50 lbs because either I can't eat because I'm right on the verge of vomiting or I get it down and it just comes right back up again, and this includes fluids too. So I'm battling these issues right now and never even thought that sucralfate might be part of the issues that I've got going on right now with me until NOW."