The goal of treatment is to get rid of the bacteria, to heal ulcers if they are present, and prevent ulcers from recurring.
Typically, a combination of two antibiotics and an acid-reducing medication or proton pump inhibitor (PPI) is used. This is known as triple therapy.
Current clinical guidelines state that choice of antibiotics should be made based on local H. pylori resistance patterns. If resistance patterns aren’t known bismuth-based quadruple therapy with tetracycline and metronidazole may be used for 14 days as the preferred empiric choice.
Antibiotics kill the bacteria. Proton Pump Inhibitors helps to heal the damage caused by the bacteria. The drugs work together to successfully eradicate infection. The medications are usually prescribed for 2 weeks.
Be sure to complete your full course of treatment to reduce your risk of recurrence and to help prevent bacterial resistance.
Other tips to help ulcers heal include:
- Avoid spicy foods, and highly acidic foods like tomato-based products, citrus foods, coffee and tea
- Avoid alcohol
- Manage your stress, and
- Quit smoking!
How can I know that my treatment was effective?
We’ll confirm that your treatment was effective with a stool antigen test or repeat EGD after you complete your course of treatment. Make sure to keep all of your office visit follow-up appointments to ensure that your treatment was effective!
Follow-up EGD may be required to ensure resolution of any ulcers originally found. All ulcers should be followed to resolution to ensure that there aren’t any underlying malignancies, cancers, or other conditions masked by these finding.
What if my treatment wasn’t effective?
Patients who fail initial treatment will need to be retreated, often with a different combination of medications.