Gastritis
Treating gastritis
Treatment aims to reduce the amount of acid in the stomach to relieve symptoms, allowing the stomach lining to heal and to tackle any underlying cause.
You may be able to treat gastritis yourself, depending on the cause.
Easing symptoms
- antacids these over-the-counter medicines neutralise the acid in your stomach, which can provide rapid pain relief
- histamine 2 (H2) blockers such asranitidine these medicines decrease acid production, and are available both over the counter and on prescription
- proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) such asomeprazole these medicines decrease acid production even more effectively than H2 blockers, and are available both over the counter and on prescription
Treating H. pylori infection
If you've been diagnosed with an H. pylori infection, you'll need totake a course of antibiotics alongside a medication called aproton pump inhibitor.
pylori infection .
What else can I do to help myself?
If you think the cause of your gastritis is repeated use of NSAID painkillers, try switching to a different painkiller that isn't in the NSAID class, such as paracetamol. You may want to talk to your GP about this.
Also consider:
- eating smaller, more frequent meals
- avoiding irritating (spicy, acidic or fried) foods
- avoiding or cutting down on alcohol
- managing stress (read our relaxation tips )
Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dec 2018
Introduction
Gastritis occurs when the lining of the stomach becomes inflamed after it's been damaged. It's a common condition with a wide range of causes.
Symptoms of gastritis
Many people with gastritis caused by a bacterial infection don't have any symptoms. In other cases, gastritis can cause: Indigestion gnawing or burningstomach pain nausea and vomiting feeling f
When to see your GP
If you haveindigestion and stomach pain, you can try treating this yourself with changes to your diet and lifestyle, or with a number of different over-the-counter medications, such as antacids . See
Diagnosing gastritis
Your GP may recommend one or more of the following tests: a stool test to check for infection or bleeding from the stomach a breath test forHelicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection this involves d
Treating gastritis
Treatment aims to reduce the amount of acid in the stomach to relieve symptoms, allowing the stomach lining to heal and to tackle any underlying cause. You may be able to treat gastritis yourself, de
Possible complications of gastritis
Chronic gastritis increases your risk of developing: astomach ulcer polyps (small growths) in your stomach tumours in your stomach, which may or may not be cancerous
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