The use of Sucralfate

Sucralfate is an anti-ulcer drug useful for the treatment and prevention of gastric (stomach) and intestinal ulcers.Sucralfate is used in the treatment and prevention of oral (mouth), esophagus (food tube), stomach and intestinal ulcers. Sucralfate promotes healing in animals with ulcers or erosions (shallow depressions in the stomach lining). Sucralfate may be useful in preventing gastritis (stomach inflammation) caused by ulcerogenic drugs (such as aspirin). Another use is in the management of acid reflux disease to reduce injury to the esophagus. Sucralfate is also used for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and stress ulcers. Unlike the other classes of medications used for treatment of peptic ulcers, sucralfate is a sucrose sulfate-aluminium complex that binds to the mucosa, thus creating a physical barrier that impairs diffusion of hydrochloric acid in the gastrointestinal tract and prevents degradation of mucus by acid. It also stimulates bicarbonate output and acts like an acid buffer with cytoprotective properties.
The only FDA-approved indication for sucralfate is for the treatment of active duodenal ulcers not related to NSAID usage because the mechanism behind these ulcers is secondary to acid oversecretion. It is not technically approved for gastric ulcers because the main mechanism is not due to acid oversecretion but rather from diminished protection. The use for sucralfate in peptic ulcer disease has diminished recently, but it is still the preferred agent for stress ulcer prophylaxis.
Product name:Sucralfate
CAS Number: 54182-58-0
Molecular formula: C12H54Al16O75S8
Molecular weight:2086.75 g/mol