Sucralfate
Also known as: Carafate, Antepsin
- **Administration Timing:** To maximize the benefit of this medication, give it on an **empty stomach** (at least 1 hour before feeding or 2 hours after) and at bedtime, unless otherwise instructed by your veterinarian. - **Consistency:** Clinical signs of stomach upset or ulcers may reoccur if dosages are missed. Administer exactly as prescribed. - **Separating Medications:** Sucralfate can block the absorption of many other drugs. If your pet is taking other medications, give them at least 2 hours apart from the sucralfate. - **Administration Tip:** If you are given tablets, your veterinarian may instruct you to dissolve the tablet in a small amount of warm water to create a "slurry" before giving it via syringe. This liquid form coats the esophagus and stomach much better than a solid tablet. - **Side Effects:** This medication is generally very safe. The most common side effect is mild constipation. Contact your vet if your pet strains to defecate or if vomiting worsens.
Dosage must be set by your veterinarian for your specific pet. Never give human medication or another pet’s prescription without veterinary guidance.
What it is used for
- General dosing
- Empirical dosage
- For gastric ulcers, esophagitis
- General dosing
- For adjunctive treatment (used with acid suppressive drugs) for preventing stress-induced ulcers in foals
- For treating equine gastric ulcer syndrome
- Right dorsal colitis (colonic ulcers)
- For esophagitis
- General dosing
- Severe GI blood loss
- For eliminating Helicobacter gastritis infections
- Severe hematemesis and anemia
- For gastric ulcers, esophagitis
How it is given
Possible side effects
- Constipation (most common in dogs and humans)
- Vomiting (reported primarily in cats)
- Constipation (most common)
- Hypophosphatemia (rare, with prolonged use)
Cautions & contraindications
- No absolute contraindications
- Use with caution in patients with decreased gastrointestinal transit times (e.g., megacolon, ileus) due to the risk of constipation
- Known hypersensitivity to sucralfate
- There are no known absolute contraindications to the use of sucralfate. * **GI Motility:** Because it may cause constipation, it should be used with caution in animals where decreased intestinal transit times might be deleterious. * **Pregnancy & Nursing:** FDA Category B in humans. Categorized as Class A (Probably safe) in dogs and cats. It is unknown if it is excreted in milk, but due to minimal systemic absorption, it is unlikely to be of concern in nursing animals. * **Timing of Administration:** Because it requires an acidic environment to activate, it should ideally be given *before* acid-suppressing drugs (like H2 blockers or PPIs), typically separated by 30-60 minutes.
Drug interactions
- Azithromycin: Decreased oral absorption; separate dosing by at least 2 hours
- Ciprofloxacin / Enrofloxacin (and other oral fluoroquinolones): Decreased oral absorption; separate dosing by at least 2 hours
- Diclofenac: Decreased oral absorption; separate dosing by at least 2 hours
- Digoxin: Decreased oral absorption; separate dosing by at least 2 hours
- Doxycycline: Decreased oral absorption; separate dosing by at least 2 hours
- Erythromycin: Decreased oral absorption; separate dosing by at least 2 hours
- Ketoconazole: Decreased oral absorption; separate dosing by at least 2 hours
- Levothyroxine: Decreased oral absorption; separate dosing by at least 2 hours
- Penicillamine: Decreased oral absorption; separate dosing by at least 2 hours
- Tetracycline: Decreased oral absorption; separate dosing by at least 2 hours
- Theophylline: Decreased oral absorption; separate dosing by at least 2 hours
Frequently asked questions
What is Sucralfate used for in pets?
- **Administration Timing:** To maximize the benefit of this medication, give it on an **empty stomach** (at least 1 hour before feeding or 2 hours after) and at bedtime, unless otherwise instructed by your veterinarian. - **Consistency:** Clinical signs of stomach upset or ulcers may reoccur if dosages are missed. Administer exactly as prescribed. - **Separating Medications:** Sucralfate can block the absorption of many other drugs. If your pet is taking other medications, give them at least 2 hours apart from the sucralfate. - **Administration Tip:** If you are given tablets, your veterinarian may instruct you to dissolve the tablet in a small amount of warm water to create a "slurry" before giving it via syringe. This liquid form coats the esophagus and stomach much better than a solid tablet. - **Side Effects:** This medication is generally very safe. The most common side effect is mild constipation. Contact your vet if your pet strains to defecate or if vomiting worsens.
Is Sucralfate safe for my pet?
Dosage must be set by your veterinarian for your specific pet. Never give human medication or another pet’s prescription without veterinary guidance.
This article is for general education and is not a substitute for professional veterinary advice. If your pet is unwell, please consult a veterinarian.
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