A friend asked Hua Zi that he had atrophic gastritis. Some people said that omeprazole could be used during the treatment, but he also saw an article saying that omeprazole could induce The possibility of atrophic gastritis, what exactly is going on, and is omeprazole “cure” or “pathogenic”?
Hua Zi said that there is no direct relationship between omeprazole and atrophic gastritis. Although, some articles say that omeprazole may induce atrophic gastritis, but that only happens under special conditions. As long as the drug is used reasonably, the risk of taking omeprazole is not large.
First, the causes of atrophic gastritis
Atrophic gastritis is a description of a pathological state, which refers to the reduction of glands in the gastric mucosa, the atrophy and thinning of the mucosa, and the epithelial tissue of the small and large intestines in some mucosa to replace the gastric mucosa In the case of epithelial tissue, known as intestinal metaplasia, a small number of atrophic gastritis are at risk of developing cancer.
The formation mechanism of atrophic gastritis is that the gastric mucosa is repeatedly damaged. During the repair process, the gastric mucosa has pathological changes.
The cause of repeated gastric mucosal damage is the most important is Helicobacter pylori infection; the second is drug factors such as long-term use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, glucocorticoids Hormones and other drugs; long-term stimulation of gastric mucosa caused by bile reflux, pancreatic juice reflux, etc.; heart failure, liver cirrhosis, uremia and other diseases leading to gastric mucosal ischemia and hypoxia; and autoimmune and genetic factors.
Second, omeprazole is a therapeutic drug
In the treatment of atrophic gastritis, the most important thing is to eliminate the factors that cause gastric mucosal damage. The most important factor is Helicobacter pylori infection. In the treatment of Helicobacter pylori eradication, proton pump inhibitors (various prazole drugs, such as omeprazole, lansoprazole, rabeprazole, etc.), is an essential treatment drug /strong>.
Proton pump inhibitors can reduce gastric acid secretion and reduce gastric mucosal damage. When combined with antibiotics to kill Helicobacter pylori, can greatly promote gastric mucosal repair.
Some patients with atrophic gastritis will experience symptoms of excessive gastric acid secretion, acid reflux and belching, and proton pump inhibitors should also be used to control symptoms.
Three, unreasonable drug use may be risky
When using proton pump inhibitors such as omeprazole, you need to take them as prescribed by your doctor. If you take it for too short a time, it may cause the recurrence of the disease, which is difficult to cure.
If you take it for a long time, it will cause the stomach to be in a low-acid environment for a long time, which will reduce the barrier capacity of the stomach, and it will be easily attacked by some pathogenic bacteria in the food , leading to gastric mucosal damage, which is why omeprazole may also induce atrophic gastritis, but the probability of this occurrence is very low.
When using proton pump inhibitors, take as prescribed by your doctor. If you need to take it for a long time, you need to have regular gastroscopy examinations, and adjust the medication in time if problems are found, so as to block the risk of medication due to insufficient gastric acid.
4. Drug treatment of atrophic gastritis
The most important thing in the treatment of atrophic gastritis is to eliminate the factors that damage the gastric mucosa, and then use the repairing ability of the stomach to recover. That is to say, the main treatment method for atrophic gastritis is “nourishing the stomach”. Drug therapy is only in an auxiliary position, and only symptomatic treatment is given to the symptoms that appear.
If there is excessive secretion of gastric acid, drugs that inhibit gastric acid can be used, such as commonly used proton pump inhibitors, H2 receptor inhibitors (ranitidine, various “tidine” drugs such as famotidine).
If severe gastric mucosal damage, gastric mucosal protective agents such as bismuth potassium citrate, colloidal bismuth pectin, and sucralfate can be used.
If there is functional dyspepsia, gastric motility drugs such as domperidone, mosapride, itopride can be used.
If the secretion of digestive enzymes is insufficient, digestive enzyme preparations such as compound azinamide and compound digestive enzymes can be used.
If accompanied by anxiety and depression symptoms, bad mood will aggravate atrophic gastritis, and it is necessary to use anti-anxiety and antidepressant drugs under the guidance of a psychiatrist.
At the same time of drug treatment, it is also necessary to pay attention to not only avoid stimulation, but also maintain the diversity of food, ensure vitamins, proteins, various trace elements Balanced, nutritional supplements can be taken when necessary.
To sum up, the cause of atrophic gastritis is caused by repeated damage to the gastric mucosa, and when omeprazole is used reasonably, it will not only cause repeated damage to the gastric mucosa, but also It has a therapeutic effect on atrophic gastritis.
However, atrophic gastritis is a difficult disease to completely cure in a short period of time, and most people require intermittent treatment over a long period of time. Rational medication under the guidance of a doctor can control disease progression, relieve symptoms, and prevent cancer. If you have any doubts about medication, please consult your doctor or pharmacist. I am pharmacist Hua Zi. Welcome to follow me and share more health knowledge.