Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsLifestyleOver-the-Counter (OTC) TherapiesPrescriptionsComplementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Lifestyle
Over-the-Counter (OTC) Therapies
Prescriptions
Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)
Chronic gastritis is a health condition that leads to the inflammation of the stomach lining. The most common cause ofgastritisis an infection withHelicobacter pylori(H. pylori)bacteria. Other causes include excessive alcohol use,autoimmune disorders, stress,viral infections, and frequent use ofnon-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
The typical symptoms of chronic gastritis aredyspepsia(indigestion), upper abdominal pain,heartburn, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, weight loss, and feeling overly full after eating. In severe cases, you may experience signs of bleeding in your stomach, dark stools, stomach cramps, fatigue, and blood in your vomit.
This article will go over the most common treatments for chronic gastritis, including lifestyle changes, over-the-counter (OTC) medications, prescription drugs, and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM).
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Some symptoms of chronic gastritis can be managed with healthy lifestyle changes, such as:
If you have chronic gastritis due to long-term use of pain relief medications like non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), your healthcare provider might recommend that you switch to a different medication.
Chronic Gastritis vs. Acute GastritisAcute gastritis tends to appear suddenly, and symptoms are usually severe. Meanwhile, the symptoms of chronic gastritis come on gradually and can last for years (or even a lifetime).
Chronic Gastritis vs. Acute Gastritis
Acute gastritis tends to appear suddenly, and symptoms are usually severe. Meanwhile, the symptoms of chronic gastritis come on gradually and can last for years (or even a lifetime).
If you have chronic gastritis, there are several OTC medications that can help to manage your indigestion symptoms.These include:
The following medicines are often prescribed to treat chronic gastritis and prevent potential complications, such as ulcers and bleeding:
Complications of Chronic GastritisChronic gastritis can lead to severe health complications—such as peptic ulcers, atrophic gastritis (in which the stomach lining is severely damaged), and gastric cancer (stomach cancer)—if left untreated. Early treatment and management of gastritis symptoms can reduce your risk of cancer.
Complications of Chronic Gastritis
Chronic gastritis can lead to severe health complications—such as peptic ulcers, atrophic gastritis (in which the stomach lining is severely damaged), and gastric cancer (stomach cancer)—if left untreated. Early treatment and management of gastritis symptoms can reduce your risk of cancer.
Autoimmune gastritis—a type of chronic gastritis that causes your immune system to destroy healthy cells—can sometimes lead to pernicious anemia (vitamin B12 deficiency). If you have autoimmune gastritis, your healthcare provider may recommend that you take the following supplements:
Though current research is inconclusive, there is some early evidence that certain vitamins and minerals can lower the risk of long-termH. pyloriinfections. Studies suggest that the following anti-inflammatory, immune-boosting supplements may help to decrease the effects ofH. pylorigastritis:
Talk to your healthcare provider before taking any vitamin or mineral supplements.
Summary
H. pylorigastritis is typically treated with prescription medications, such as antibiotics and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). Bismuth subsalicylate may be prescribed along with antibiotics and PPIs as part of triple or quadruple therapy forH. pyloriinfections. Over-the-counter (OTC) treatments, such as histamine 2 (H2) blockers and antacids, can help with the symptoms of indigestion. Helpful lifestyle changes for chronic gastritis include dietary changes, quitting smoking, cutting back on alcohol, and stress management. Vitamin and mineral supplements, such as iron, vitamin B12, and folic acid, may be recommended if you have autoimmune gastritis.
A Word From Verywell
It’s important to treat chronic gastritis early to decrease your risk of complications, such as stomach cancer. Talk to your healthcare provider if you experience symptoms of indigestion that are getting worse or aren’t going away.
16 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Gastritis.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of gastritis & gastropathy.Adejumo AC, Li J, Akanbi O, et al.Reduced prevalence of alcoholic gastritis in hospitalized individuals who consume cannabis.Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2019;43(2):270-276. doi:10.1111/acer.13930Butt J, Varga MG, Wang T, et al.Smoking,Helicobacter pyloriserology, and gastric cancer risk in prospective studies from China, Japan, and Korea.Cancer Prev Res (Phila). 2019;12(10):667-674. doi:10.1158/1940-6207.CAPR-19-0238Li Y, Su Z, Li P, et al.Association of symptoms with eating habits and food preferences in chronic gastritis patients: a cross-sectional study.Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2020;2020:5197201. doi:10.1155/2020/5197201Zheng J, Cai W, Lu X, et al.Chronic stress accelerates the process of gastric precancerous lesions in rats.J Cancer. 2021;12(14):4121-4133. doi:10.7150/jca.52658National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Treatment of gastritis & gastropathy.National Health Service.Gastritis.MedlinePlus.Taking antacids.MedlinePlus.H2 blockers.MedlinePlus.Omeprazole.MedlinePlus.Proton pump inhibitors.MedlinePlus.Bismuth subsalicylate.Graham DY, Lee SY.How to effectively use bismuth quadruple therapy: the good, the bad, and the ugly.Gastroenterol Clin North Am. 2015;44(3):537-63. doi:10.1016/j.gtc.2015.05.003National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Definition & facts for gastritis & gastropathy.Nabavi-Rad A, Azizi M, Jamshidizadeh S, et al.The effects of vitamins and micronutrients onHelicobacter pyloripathogenicity, survival, and eradication: a crosstalk between micronutrients and immune system.J Immunol Res. 2022;2022:4713684. doi:10.1155/2022/4713684
16 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Gastritis.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of gastritis & gastropathy.Adejumo AC, Li J, Akanbi O, et al.Reduced prevalence of alcoholic gastritis in hospitalized individuals who consume cannabis.Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2019;43(2):270-276. doi:10.1111/acer.13930Butt J, Varga MG, Wang T, et al.Smoking,Helicobacter pyloriserology, and gastric cancer risk in prospective studies from China, Japan, and Korea.Cancer Prev Res (Phila). 2019;12(10):667-674. doi:10.1158/1940-6207.CAPR-19-0238Li Y, Su Z, Li P, et al.Association of symptoms with eating habits and food preferences in chronic gastritis patients: a cross-sectional study.Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2020;2020:5197201. doi:10.1155/2020/5197201Zheng J, Cai W, Lu X, et al.Chronic stress accelerates the process of gastric precancerous lesions in rats.J Cancer. 2021;12(14):4121-4133. doi:10.7150/jca.52658National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Treatment of gastritis & gastropathy.National Health Service.Gastritis.MedlinePlus.Taking antacids.MedlinePlus.H2 blockers.MedlinePlus.Omeprazole.MedlinePlus.Proton pump inhibitors.MedlinePlus.Bismuth subsalicylate.Graham DY, Lee SY.How to effectively use bismuth quadruple therapy: the good, the bad, and the ugly.Gastroenterol Clin North Am. 2015;44(3):537-63. doi:10.1016/j.gtc.2015.05.003National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Definition & facts for gastritis & gastropathy.Nabavi-Rad A, Azizi M, Jamshidizadeh S, et al.The effects of vitamins and micronutrients onHelicobacter pyloripathogenicity, survival, and eradication: a crosstalk between micronutrients and immune system.J Immunol Res. 2022;2022:4713684. doi:10.1155/2022/4713684
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
MedlinePlus.Gastritis.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of gastritis & gastropathy.Adejumo AC, Li J, Akanbi O, et al.Reduced prevalence of alcoholic gastritis in hospitalized individuals who consume cannabis.Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2019;43(2):270-276. doi:10.1111/acer.13930Butt J, Varga MG, Wang T, et al.Smoking,Helicobacter pyloriserology, and gastric cancer risk in prospective studies from China, Japan, and Korea.Cancer Prev Res (Phila). 2019;12(10):667-674. doi:10.1158/1940-6207.CAPR-19-0238Li Y, Su Z, Li P, et al.Association of symptoms with eating habits and food preferences in chronic gastritis patients: a cross-sectional study.Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2020;2020:5197201. doi:10.1155/2020/5197201Zheng J, Cai W, Lu X, et al.Chronic stress accelerates the process of gastric precancerous lesions in rats.J Cancer. 2021;12(14):4121-4133. doi:10.7150/jca.52658National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Treatment of gastritis & gastropathy.National Health Service.Gastritis.MedlinePlus.Taking antacids.MedlinePlus.H2 blockers.MedlinePlus.Omeprazole.MedlinePlus.Proton pump inhibitors.MedlinePlus.Bismuth subsalicylate.Graham DY, Lee SY.How to effectively use bismuth quadruple therapy: the good, the bad, and the ugly.Gastroenterol Clin North Am. 2015;44(3):537-63. doi:10.1016/j.gtc.2015.05.003National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Definition & facts for gastritis & gastropathy.Nabavi-Rad A, Azizi M, Jamshidizadeh S, et al.The effects of vitamins and micronutrients onHelicobacter pyloripathogenicity, survival, and eradication: a crosstalk between micronutrients and immune system.J Immunol Res. 2022;2022:4713684. doi:10.1155/2022/4713684
MedlinePlus.Gastritis.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of gastritis & gastropathy.
Adejumo AC, Li J, Akanbi O, et al.Reduced prevalence of alcoholic gastritis in hospitalized individuals who consume cannabis.Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2019;43(2):270-276. doi:10.1111/acer.13930
Butt J, Varga MG, Wang T, et al.Smoking,Helicobacter pyloriserology, and gastric cancer risk in prospective studies from China, Japan, and Korea.Cancer Prev Res (Phila). 2019;12(10):667-674. doi:10.1158/1940-6207.CAPR-19-0238
Li Y, Su Z, Li P, et al.Association of symptoms with eating habits and food preferences in chronic gastritis patients: a cross-sectional study.Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2020;2020:5197201. doi:10.1155/2020/5197201
Zheng J, Cai W, Lu X, et al.Chronic stress accelerates the process of gastric precancerous lesions in rats.J Cancer. 2021;12(14):4121-4133. doi:10.7150/jca.52658
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Treatment of gastritis & gastropathy.
National Health Service.Gastritis.
MedlinePlus.Taking antacids.
MedlinePlus.H2 blockers.
MedlinePlus.Omeprazole.
MedlinePlus.Proton pump inhibitors.
MedlinePlus.Bismuth subsalicylate.
Graham DY, Lee SY.How to effectively use bismuth quadruple therapy: the good, the bad, and the ugly.Gastroenterol Clin North Am. 2015;44(3):537-63. doi:10.1016/j.gtc.2015.05.003
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Definition & facts for gastritis & gastropathy.
Nabavi-Rad A, Azizi M, Jamshidizadeh S, et al.The effects of vitamins and micronutrients onHelicobacter pyloripathogenicity, survival, and eradication: a crosstalk between micronutrients and immune system.J Immunol Res. 2022;2022:4713684. doi:10.1155/2022/4713684
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