High Economic Burden Yet Low Clinical Value: Why Is so Much Sucralfate Prescribed?

Sucralfate is a commonly prescribed medication in use for decades. Despite the availability of more effective medications for acid-dyspeptic conditions, including proton pump inhibitors and histamine H2-receptor antagonists, sucralfate continues to be utilized for upper gastrointestinal symptoms. We reviewed the limited evidence base supporting the approval and ongoing usage of sucralfate and performed a cost analysis using the ClinCalc database. The financial impact of sucralfate was comparable to famotidine, lansoprazole and ranitidine. We encourage further studies to accurately gauge the true clinical efficacy of sucralfate and to question its ongoing prescription until then.