Sucralfate in the relief of gastrointestinal symptoms associated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Sucralfate is an unabsorbed antiulcer drug that binds to gastrointestinal tissue and protects it from acid and pepsin. Twenty-two arthritic patients taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) were given sucralfate concomitantly for two weeks in an attempt to lessen gastrointestinal side effects. Changes from baseline in abdominal discomfort were assessed after 2, 7, 10 (or 11), and 14 days of treatment. Sucralfate administration was accompanied by the disappearance of heartburn, epigastric pain, epigastric distress, or epigastric burning in 42 of 59 occurrences, and by statistically significant reductions in bloating. There was a trend toward significance in decreased nocturnal abdominal pain and in belching. Overall improvement, assessed at the completion of each patient's treatment, also was statistically significant.