Sucralfate
/api/v1/drug/sucralfateMechanism of action
Sourced from openFDAMechanism-of-action class: Binding Activity.
Indications
Sourced from openFDA- Sucralfate tablets are indicated in: Short-term treatment (up to 8 weeks) of active duodenal ulcer. While healing with sucralfate may occur during the first week or two, treatment should be continued for 4 to 8 weeks unless healing has been demonstrated by x-ray or endoscopic examination.ICD-10: K26.9
Contraindications
Sourced from openFDA- Sucralfate tablets are contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity reactions to the active substance or to any of the excipients.contraindicated
Dosage & administration
Sourced from openFDAActive Duodenal Ulcer. The recommended adult oral dosage for duodenal ulcer is 1 g four times per day on an empty stomach. Antacids may be prescribed as needed for relief of pain but should not be taken within one-half hour before or after sucralfate. While healing with sucralfate may occur during the first week or two, treatment should be continued for 4 to 8 weeks unless healing has been demonstrated by x-ray or endoscopic examination. Maintenance Therapy: The recommended adult oral dosage is 1 g twice a day. Elderly: In general, dose selection for an elderly patient should be cautious, usually starting at the low end of the dosing range, reflecting the greater frequency of decreased hepatic, renal, or cardiac function, and of concomitant disease or other drug therapy (See PRECAUTIONS, Geriatric Use ). Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Nostrum Laboratories, Inc. at quality@nostrumpharma.com or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.
Adverse reactions
Sourced from openFDAAdverse reactions to sucralfate in clinical trials were minor and only rarely led to discontinuation of the drug. In studies involving over 2700 patients treated with sucralfate tablets, adverse effects were reported in 129 (4.7%). Constipation was the most frequent complaint (2%). Other adverse effects reported in less than 0.5% of the patients are listed below by body system: Gastrointestinal: diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, gastric discomfort, indigestion, flatulence, dry mouth Dermatological: pruritus, rash Nervous System: dizziness, insomnia, sleepiness, vertigo Other: back pain, headache Post-marketing : cases of hypersensitivity have been reported with the use of sucralfate tablets, including dyspnea, lip swelling, pruritus, rash, and urticaria. Cases of anaphylactic reactions, bronchospasm, laryngeal edema, edema of the mouth, pharyngeal edema, respiratory tract edema and swelling of the face have been reported with an unknown oral formulation of sucralfate. Bezoars have been reported in patients treated with sucralfate. The majority of patients had underlying medical conditions that may predispose to bezoar formation (such as delayed gastric emptying) or were receiving concomitant enteral tube feedings. Inadvertent injection of insoluble sucralfate and its insoluble excipients has led to fatal complications, including pulmonary and cerebral emboli. Sucralfate is not intended for intravenous administration.
Use in specific populations
Sourced from openFDAPregnancy Teratogenic effects Teratogenicity studies have been performed in mice, rats, and rabbits at doses up to 50 times the human dose and have revealed no evidence of harm to the fetus due to sucralfate. There are, however, no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. Because animal reproduction studies are not always predictive of human response, this drug should be used during pregnancy only if clearly needed.
Overdosage
Sourced from openFDADue to limited experience in humans with overdosage of sucralfate, no specific treatment recommendations can be given. Acute oral toxicity studies in animals, however, using doses up to 12 g/kg body weight, could not find a lethal dose. Sucralfate is only minimally absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. Risks associated with acute overdosage should, therefore, be minimal. In rare reports describing sucralfate overdose, most patients remained asymptomatic. Those few reports where adverse events were described included symptoms of dyspepsia, abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting.
Approval history
Sourced from openFDA- Oct 30, 1981NDANDA018333Abbvie
- Dec 16, 1993NDANDA019183Abbvie
- Mar 29, 1996ANDAANDA070848Teva
- Jun 8, 1998ANDAANDA074415Chartwell Rx
- Dec 2, 2019ANDAANDA209356Amneal
- Mar 15, 2022ANDAANDA211884Vistapharm Llc
- Apr 15, 2022ANDAANDA215576Amneal Pharms
- Sep 12, 2022ANDAANDA212913Mylan
FAERS reports
- 1Nausea2,3129.9%
- 2Fatigue1,7677.5%
- 3Diarrhoea1,7357.4%
- 4Pain1,5016.4%
- 5Headache1,4086.0%
- 6Vomiting1,3865.9%
- 7Dyspnoea1,3285.7%
- 8Drug Ineffective1,3165.6%
- 9Off Label Use1,3085.6%
- 10Dizziness1,0594.5%
- 11Weight Decreased1,0114.3%
- 12Abdominal Pain1,0014.3%
- 13Chronic Kidney Disease9854.2%
- 14Malaise9844.2%
- 15Pneumonia9644.1%
Literature
Recent PubMed references pinned to Sucralfate as a MeSH major topic. Citations link to pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.
- Enemas with sucralfate and n-acetylcysteine can reduce inflammation and oxidative stress in colonic mucosa without fecal stream.Acta cirurgica brasileira · 2025 · Zanesco MC, Yoshitani MM, Fagundes FL, et al.PMID 40834221DOI 10.1590/acb406325
- High Economic Burden Yet Low Clinical Value: Why Is so Much Sucralfate Prescribed?Basic & clinical pharmacology & toxicology · 2025 · Wadhavkar N, Varnum L, Moss SF, et al.PMID 40515427DOI 10.1111/bcpt.70070
- A novel cycloastragenol-encapsulated carboxymethyl chitosan-silk fibroin hydrogel combined with sucralfate alleviates MNNG-induced chronic atrophic gastritis by targeting HIF-1α and VEGF signaling pathways.Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's archives of pharmacology · 2025 · Ren J, Jiang Q, Wu K, et al.PMID 40488849DOI 10.1007/s00210-025-04242-4
- The Role of Sucralfate in Post-Tonsillectomy Pain in Children: A Scoping Review.The Annals of otology, rhinology, and laryngology · 2025 · Briggs EE, McCray LR, Patel JJ, et al.PMID 40304217DOI 10.1177/00034894251336517
- The role of postoperative sucralfate in adults following tonsillectomy and sleep surgery: a systematic review.European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology : official journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery · 2025 · McCray LR, Briggs EE, Patel JJ, et al.PMID 40155548DOI 10.1007/s00405-025-09311-1
- Clinical Trial: Precise Administration of Sucralfate Powder in Prevention of Delayed Postpolypectomy Bleeding. A Randomized Controlled Trial.Clinical and translational gastroenterology · 2025 · Chiang HC, Chen PJ, Yang EH, et al.PMID 39836033DOI 10.14309/ctg.0000000000000818
- SUCRALFATE MAY BE AN EFFECTIVE TOPICAL AGENT IN PREVENTING ORAL MUCOSITIS.The journal of evidence-based dental practice · 2024 · Cheng LLPMID 39631970DOI 10.1016/j.jebdp.2024.102037
- Effectiveness of preoperative micronized purified flavonoid fraction treatment and sucralfate-based rectal ointment on hemorrhoidal disease: A case-matched analysis.Techniques in coloproctology · 2024 · Gallo G, Lori E, Goglia M, et al.PMID 39287845DOI 10.1007/s10151-024-02998-0
Clinical trials
The 10 most recently updated of 27 ClinicalTrials.gov registrations naming Sucralfate as an intervention. Registration is not evidence of efficacy or safety — reference crosswalk only.
- Comparative Effectiveness of Alginate, Magaldrate, Sucralfate, Proton Pump Inhibitors, and Diet in Laryngopharyngeal Reflux DiseaseNot yet recruiting · Phase 4 · Interventional · 800 enrolled · University of MonsNCT07611162updated 2026-05-28
- Alginate vs Sucralfate for GERD Symptomatic ReliefCompleted · Phase 2 · Phase 3 · Interventional · 140 enrolled · CMH Lahore Medical College and Institute of DentistryNCT07310927updated 2026-04-21
- Endoscopic Application of Tranexamic Acid and Sucralfate in Gastrointestinal Tumor Bleeding: A Randomized Controlled TrialRecruiting · Interventional · 60 enrolled · National Cheng-Kung University HospitalNCT07540026updated 2026-04-20
- Esomeprazole Plus Sucralfate for Post-ESD Ulcer HealingNot yet recruiting · Phase 4 · Interventional · 120 enrolled · LanZhou UniversityNCT07312370updated 2026-03-23
- Reducing Acute Upper Gastrointestinal Side-Effects of Thoracic IrradiationActive not recruiting · Phase 2 · Interventional · 142 enrolled · Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer CenterNCT05659576updated 2026-01-27
- Prevention of Delayed Post-polypectomy Bleeding by Endoscopic Sucralfate Spray in High-risk Patients: A Randomized Controlled TrialNot yet recruiting · Phase 4 · Interventional · 160 enrolled · National Cheng-Kung University HospitalNCT07257926updated 2025-12-02
- Precise Endoscopic Application of Tranexamic Acid and Sucralfate in Gastrointestinal Bleeding: A Randomized Controlled TrialCompleted · Interventional · 60 enrolled · National Cheng-Kung University HospitalNCT06421389updated 2025-07-18
- Prevention of Post-sphincterotomy BleedingRecruiting · Interventional · 120 enrolled · National Cheng-Kung University HospitalNCT06107504updated 2025-05-25
- Endoscopically-delivered Purastat to Treat Bleeding Caused by Radiation ProctopathyCompleted · Interventional · 26 enrolled · Manchester University NHS Foundation TrustNCT04918758updated 2025-03-19
- Short-Term Outcome of Medical Vs. Surgical Management Of Chronic Anal FissureCompleted · Phase 1 · Phase 2 · Interventional · 99 enrolled · Suez Canal UniversityNCT06617026updated 2024-11-08
Frequently asked questions
- How does Sucralfate work?
- Mechanism-of-action class: Binding Activity.
- What is Sucralfate used for?
- According to FDA labeling, Sucralfate carries indications including: Sucralfate tablets are indicated in: Short-term treatment (up to 8 weeks) of active duodenal ulcer. While healing with sucralfate may occur during the first week or two, treatment should be continued for 4 to 8 weeks unless healing has been demonstrated by x-ray or endoscopic examination.. This is a reference summary of labeled uses, not medical advice or a treatment recommendation.
- What class of drug is Sucralfate?
- Sucralfate is classified as Other drugs for peptic ulcer and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD), Aluminum Complex, Binding Activity, Gastric Acid Alteration.
- What are the brand names for Sucralfate?
- Sucralfate is marketed under brand names including Carafate.
- What are the contraindications for Sucralfate?
- Sucralfate labeling lists contraindications including: Sucralfate tablets are contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity reactions to the active substance or to any of the excipients.. Always consult the full prescribing information and a clinician.
sucralfate is illustrative MVP content compiled from public sources. pharmacopeia is for educational and informational use only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice.