Duodenal Ulcer Treatment: What Works, What to Avoid, and How to Heal
When you have a duodenal ulcer, a sore in the first part of the small intestine caused by stomach acid eating through the protective lining. Also known as a peptic ulcer, it’s not just "bad digestion"—it’s a medical condition that needs the right kind of care. Most people think spicy food or stress causes it, but the real culprits are usually H. pylori, a bacteria that lives in the stomach and breaks down the mucus layer protecting the gut or long-term use of NSAIDs like ibuprofen. Without treating the cause, pills just mask the pain—and the ulcer keeps getting worse.
The standard duodenal ulcer treatment starts with killing H. pylori if it’s there. That means a combo of two antibiotics and a proton pump inhibitor (PPI), usually for 10–14 days. PPIs like omeprazole or esomeprazole don’t just reduce acid—they let the lining heal by creating the right environment. Skipping the antibiotics? The ulcer will come back. Using antacids alone? You’re just buying time. And if you’re still taking NSAIDs for pain? That’s like pouring gasoline on a fire. Your doctor should help you switch to safer pain relief, like acetaminophen, while you heal.
It’s not just about medicine. Smoking delays healing by cutting off blood flow to the ulcer site. Alcohol irritates the lining and makes acid production worse. Even caffeine from coffee or soda can increase stomach acid enough to slow recovery. You don’t need to go cold turkey overnight, but cutting back makes a real difference. Most people feel better in a week or two, but full healing takes 6–8 weeks. Skipping follow-up tests means you might think you’re fine when the bacteria is still there.
What you’ll find in these articles isn’t just generic advice. You’ll see real comparisons: how different PPIs stack up, why some people don’t respond to standard treatment, what to do if you’re allergic to common antibiotics, and how to tell if your symptoms are something more serious. There’s no magic pill, but there is a clear path—if you know where to look.
