I was asked several times in the clinic about the frequently talked about discussion in the medical community about the possible negative effect of acid-blocking drugs for some blood-thinning drugs known as anti-platelets (such as Plavix). Clinical Gastroenterology And Hepatology in December 2009 issued by The American Gastroenterology Association and based on the study that was previously published in the Lancet medical journal. From giving antiplatelets, but there was no negative effect reported after that, so when evaluating such cases by the treating physician, it is advised to continue taking acid inhibitors for patients with gastric and duodenal ulcers as long as they are under medical supervision, even if the patient is on antiplatelet drugs until That the picture becomes clearer with future studies in this field, because acid-suppressing drugs have a major role in treating stomach ulcers, and I find it an opportunity to talk about stomach and duodenal ulcers.

As some of the causes of the appearance and irritation of gastric and duodenal ulcers are:

This type of bacteria called Helicobacter pylori, aspirin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, alcohol, coffee, smoking, rare cases such as Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (in which the stomach secretes large amounts of acid), and gastric and duodenal ulcers have been observed in certain families rather than others. And not as it is believed that it may arise from stress or tension, but the latter may increase the individual’s sensitivity to pain.

Stomach and duodenal ulcer medications should be discontinued after consulting a doctor

One of the accompanying symptoms is a burning pain in the upper abdomen, especially after eating about three hours or at night and lasting for hours, and may be accompanied by back pain, especially when the back wall of the duodenum is injured, which may subside temporarily with eating or when taking antacids, and other symptoms include feeling Bloating, nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite, and when bleeding from ulcers occurs, it appears in the form of vomiting bloody substance (digested blood in coffee color) or black stools, and later symptoms of anemia arise from weakness and a tendency to faint, and in emergency cases the pain is severe and sudden, when a hole occurs In the stomach wall, God forbid.

It is preferable to consult a doctor specialized in gastroenterology when you feel these symptoms to check on your health. After the doctor reviews all the details of your health situation and performs a clinical examination with some basic analyzes, he may call for some rays such as a barium bolus (in which X-rays are taken of the patient during the procedure). By swallowing a liquid substance to show any functional or organic defect in the upper part of the alimentary canal) or making an endoscopy of the esophagus, stomach and duodenum to explore and take the necessary samples for tissues and microbes. In emergency cases, endoscopic therapeutic intervention may be required.

Based on the results of the tests and analyzes, the appropriate treatment of antacids, histamine-2 blockers, and acid blockers is selected.

The treatment of Helicobacter pylori, which was discovered as a key factor in the emergence and recurrence of gastric and duodenal ulcers (1994), has provoked a great development in this field in terms of the patient’s response to some medications for a period of one to two weeks instead of chronic treatment with little desired benefit (it was found that more than 85 percent of those who are treated for gastric or duodenal ulcers get ulcers again within a year of treatment, but this percentage drops to 2 percent if it is confirmed that these bacteria are eliminated).

For information, the percentage of the presence of this bacteria (known as the germ) in normal people is up to 37 percent (according to local studies), and since it is transmitted by infection, it is frequent among children and the lower living classes, especially in developing countries, but it does not lead to any problems in many cases, but It is treated and in certain cases it must be ensured that it is eliminated in order to prevent any future complications that may arise, and it is detected in several ways, the most accurate of which is the examination of a sample taken endoscopically from the lining of the stomach (a procedure that takes a few minutes while the patient is under the influence of a sedative and may not be necessary, then The endoscope is passed from the mouth to the esophagus and then the stomach, and the patient may feel some bloating, but often he does not feel any inconveniences or problems except in very rare cases) and there are other methods such as the exhalation test (blowing) and this type of examination is preferred if there is a need to make sure that the disease is eliminated. The germ or if the patient does not want to do the endoscopy, knowing that there are some other methods of detection, but they are less accurate and sensitive.

As for its susceptibility to treatment, it reaches more than 90 percent, and there are several treatment plans that the doctor can implement according to what he deems appropriate.

In conclusion, I wish good health to all, while taking care to avoid all that the doctor advises, while fully adhering to the treatment plan.