Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsImproving SleepSymptomsWhen to See a Healthcare Provider
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Improving Sleep
Symptoms
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Ulcer pain relief at night can help you to improve sleep, even when ulcer symptoms seem worse at night. These sores are usually easy todiagnose, but symptoms can get worse without treatment. Simple steps, like sleeping on your left side, can reduce the discomfort ofpeptic ulcers.
This article will explore the common symptoms of stomach ulcers, why they might feel worse at night, and how steps like changing your sleep position and avoiding late-night snacks can relieve ulcer-related pain.
Burak Karademir / Getty Images
Sleepis crucial to maintaining gastrointestinal tract health. Stomach ulcers can affect sleep quality, and poor sleep can make ulcers worse or cause them to return.
One study found that people who slept nine or more hours each night had lower rates of stomach ulcers than those who slept seven hours. This suggests that sleep can have a protective effect against stomach ulcers.
Stomach ulcers can disturb sleep for several reasons, and making a few simple changes may help to improve sleep quality and accelerate healing.
Sleeping Positions
Sleep habits can affect digestive system disorders like ulcers andgastroesophagealreflux disease (GERD), two conditions with similar symptoms that are often confused with one another. Making changes to your sleep habits can help ease symptoms of both.
When you sleep on the right side, it puts the stomach higher than the esophagus and makes it easier for acid to flow back. Researchers are looking at ways to train people to sleep on their left side, including one study that evaluates a wearable device that vibrates when you sleep on the right side.
Increased stomach acids from stress, spicy foods, and medications can exacerbate symptoms of GERD and peptic ulcers.These acids build up the most after eating, so if you eat late at night, discomfort can worsen when you sleep. Avoiding late-night snacks or meals may help ease symptoms.
Changing your sleep positioncan help with ulcer pain relief at night. These stomach ulcers can eventually heal, but usually only after medication and lifestyle changes like sleep position.
Medications
Your first instinct to manage the pain of a stomach ulcer may be to reach for an over-the-counter (OTC) pain reliever, but using NSAIDs is one of the leading causes of stomach ulcers. If you have a history of peptic ulcers or are at risk of developing an ulcer, talk to your healthcare provider about your NSAID use and consideralternative ways to manage your pain.
Medications like Pepcid and Prilosec can be purchased OTC, but others (like Protonix) are only available with a prescription from a healthcare provider. Some people need a combination of medications and lifestyle changes to find relief.
Peptic Ulcer Disease Treatment
Diet
Historically, it was thought that spicy or acidic foods could cause stomach ulcers, but evidence points toH. pyloriand NSAID use as the primary causes.
This doesn’t mean that diet does not affect symptoms or how ulcers progress. Eating triggers theproduction of stomach acids. Consuming a big meal or certain foods can increase the acid in your stomach and aggravate an ulcer. This may be especially true at night due to the positioning of the stomach and the movement of acids.
Alcohol and caffeine contribute to stomach ulcer pain and poor sleep quality.Avoiding certain foodsthat trigger ulcer pain and limiting eating before bed can help relieve ulcer pain and improve sleep.
Best and Worst Foods for Stomach Ulcers
Sleep Hygiene
You can also try toimprove your sleepwith better sleep hygiene, which begins with eliminating distractions. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends taking the following steps to get better sleep.
How Long Does It Take for an Ulcer to Calm Down?With an over-the-counter antacid, you may experience temporary symptom relief within a few minutes or hours. But healing of the ulcer itself typically takes between four and eight weeks, and medications used to treat ulcers (like PPIs) will take a few weeks.
How Long Does It Take for an Ulcer to Calm Down?
With an over-the-counter antacid, you may experience temporary symptom relief within a few minutes or hours. But healing of the ulcer itself typically takes between four and eight weeks, and medications used to treat ulcers (like PPIs) will take a few weeks.
How Can I Get Immediate Relief From Ulcer Pain?
Over-the-counter (OTC) antacids can bring fast relief, as do products likeCarafate(sucralfate) andPepto-Bismol(bismuth subsalicylate) that coat the stomach.
Keep in mind that these medications aren’t meant to heal ulcers. They can relieve pain but are not a long-term fix.
Consider home remedies and herbal products for ulcer pain relief at night, too. For example,Plantago ovatajuice has shown results in coating the stomach lining and reducing inflammation.Other drinks that soothe ulcer inflammation include chamomile tea.
What Is the Best Painkiller for Stomach Ulcers?
With OTC products, Tylenol (acetaminophen) is the safest and most effective pain relief option for people diagnosed with stomach ulcers.Aspirin poses risks and can cause stomach ulcers and bleeding.Ibuprofenandnaproxenalso can cause gastrointestinal damage.
NSAIDs that are called COX-2 inhibitors pose less risk. One review of the research ranked the NSAID options:
Speak with your healthcare provider about taking any of these medications.
An Overview of Cyclooxygenase (COX)
Symptoms of Stomach Ulcers
More severe ulcers may cause:
Risk Factors for Stomach UlcersNSAID use andH. pyloriinfections are the most common causes of stomach ulcers, but there arerisk factorsthat can increase your chances of developing these injuries. These damage or weaken your stomach lining and make your tissues more vulnerable to ulcer development. Risk factors include:Heavy alcohol consumptionCigarette smokingBeing over age 60
Risk Factors for Stomach Ulcers
NSAID use andH. pyloriinfections are the most common causes of stomach ulcers, but there arerisk factorsthat can increase your chances of developing these injuries. These damage or weaken your stomach lining and make your tissues more vulnerable to ulcer development. Risk factors include:Heavy alcohol consumptionCigarette smokingBeing over age 60
NSAID use andH. pyloriinfections are the most common causes of stomach ulcers, but there arerisk factorsthat can increase your chances of developing these injuries. These damage or weaken your stomach lining and make your tissues more vulnerable to ulcer development. Risk factors include:
Stomach (Peptic) Ulcers: Symptoms and Complications
In most cases, ulcers will heal with treatment. If left untreated, they could get worse and lead tocomplicationslike:
Schedule an appointment with your healthcare provider if you think you have a stomach ulcer.
Seek Immediate TreatmentIf you develop any of the following symptoms, seek immediate medical treatment:Vomiting bright red blood or dark material resembling coffee groundsBloody or tarry-looking stoolsNausea or vomiting that gets worse over timeSevere dizziness or weaknessSudden or severe pains that extend to your back
Seek Immediate Treatment
If you develop any of the following symptoms, seek immediate medical treatment:Vomiting bright red blood or dark material resembling coffee groundsBloody or tarry-looking stoolsNausea or vomiting that gets worse over timeSevere dizziness or weaknessSudden or severe pains that extend to your back
If you develop any of the following symptoms, seek immediate medical treatment:
Summary
Stomach ulcers are small wounds that can develop in your digestive tract. Bacteria and medications can cause ulcers, especially the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
Ulcer pain can wake you up at night and cause problems with your sleep. Your healthcare provider can help you find the right combination of medications and lifestyle changes to treat stomach ulcers and improve sleep. Changing your sleep position may be one of the most important steps.
Ulcers aren’t rare. Stomach ulcers affect more than 4 million Americans yearly, and one in 10 people will develop one in their lifetime.Still, they can lead to serious complications if left untreated. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best treatment for a stomach ulcer.
Coping With Peptic Ulcer Disease
23 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.Harvard Health Publishing.Peptic ulcer.Fang B, et al.Impact of subjective and objective sleep quality on peptic ulcer rebleeding in older adults, psychosomatic medicine.Psychosom Med.2021;83(9):995-1003. doi:10.1097/PSY.0000000000001001.Zha LF, et al.Effects of insomnia on peptic ulcer disease using Mendelian randomization.Oxid. Med. Cell. Longev.2021;2021:2216314. doi:10.1155/2021/2216314.Ko SH, Baeg MK, Ko SY, Han KD.Women who sleep more have reduced risk of peptic ulcer disease; Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2008-2009).Sci Rep. 2016;6:36925. doi:10.1038/srep36925.UCLA Health.Two commonly confused conditions.Simadibrata DM, Lesmana E, Amangku BR, Wardoyo MP, Simadibrata M.Left lateral decubitus sleeping position is associated with improved gastroesophageal reflux disease symptoms: A systematic review and meta-analysis.World J Clin Cases. 2023 Oct 26;11(30):7329-7336. doi:10.12998/wjcc.v11.i30.7329.Albarqouni L, Moynihan R, Clark J, Scott AM, Duggan A, Del Mar C.Head of bed elevation to relieve gastroesophageal reflux symptoms: a systematic review.BMC Fam Pract. 2021 Jan 19;22(1):24. doi:10.1186/s12875-021-01369-0.Schuitenmaker JM, Kuipers T, Oude Nijhuis RAB, Schijven MP, Smout AJPM, Fockens P,et al.Sleep Positional Therapy for Nocturnal Gastroesophageal Reflux: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Sham-Controlled Trial.Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2022 Dec;20(12):2753-2762.e2. doi:10.1016/j.cgh.2022.02.058.Drini M.Peptic ulcer disease and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.Aust Prescr. 2017;40(3):91-93. doi:10.18773/austprescr.2017.037Johns Hopkins Medicine.Stomach and duodenal ulcers (peptic ulcers).MedlinePlus.H2 blockers.MedlinePlus.Proton pump inhibitors.National Institutes of Health.Treatment for peptic ulcers (stomach ulcers).Cedars-Sinai.Ulcers.MedlinePlus.Peptic ulcer.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About sleep.American College of Gastroenterology.Peptic ulcer disease.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.2015.05.003Triantafyllidi A, Xanthos T, Papalois A, Triantafillidis JK.Herbal and plant therapy in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.Ann Gastroenterol. 2015;28(2):210-220.Hvas CL, Borre M, Fassov JL. [Nutrition and dietary supplement in chronic inflammatory bowel diesease].Ugeskr Laeger. 2017;179(31):V12160870.Slomski A.Daily aspirin increases gastrointestinal bleeding among older adults.JAMA. 2020;324(16):1599. doi:10.1001/jama.2020.20645FamilyDoctor.org.Ulcers.Lee SP, Sung IK, Kim JH, Lee SY, Park HS, Shim CS.Risk factors for the presence of symptoms in peptic ulcer disease.Clin Endosc. 2016;50(6):578-584. doi:10.5946/ce.2016.129
23 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.Harvard Health Publishing.Peptic ulcer.Fang B, et al.Impact of subjective and objective sleep quality on peptic ulcer rebleeding in older adults, psychosomatic medicine.Psychosom Med.2021;83(9):995-1003. doi:10.1097/PSY.0000000000001001.Zha LF, et al.Effects of insomnia on peptic ulcer disease using Mendelian randomization.Oxid. Med. Cell. Longev.2021;2021:2216314. doi:10.1155/2021/2216314.Ko SH, Baeg MK, Ko SY, Han KD.Women who sleep more have reduced risk of peptic ulcer disease; Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2008-2009).Sci Rep. 2016;6:36925. doi:10.1038/srep36925.UCLA Health.Two commonly confused conditions.Simadibrata DM, Lesmana E, Amangku BR, Wardoyo MP, Simadibrata M.Left lateral decubitus sleeping position is associated with improved gastroesophageal reflux disease symptoms: A systematic review and meta-analysis.World J Clin Cases. 2023 Oct 26;11(30):7329-7336. doi:10.12998/wjcc.v11.i30.7329.Albarqouni L, Moynihan R, Clark J, Scott AM, Duggan A, Del Mar C.Head of bed elevation to relieve gastroesophageal reflux symptoms: a systematic review.BMC Fam Pract. 2021 Jan 19;22(1):24. doi:10.1186/s12875-021-01369-0.Schuitenmaker JM, Kuipers T, Oude Nijhuis RAB, Schijven MP, Smout AJPM, Fockens P,et al.Sleep Positional Therapy for Nocturnal Gastroesophageal Reflux: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Sham-Controlled Trial.Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2022 Dec;20(12):2753-2762.e2. doi:10.1016/j.cgh.2022.02.058.Drini M.Peptic ulcer disease and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.Aust Prescr. 2017;40(3):91-93. doi:10.18773/austprescr.2017.037Johns Hopkins Medicine.Stomach and duodenal ulcers (peptic ulcers).MedlinePlus.H2 blockers.MedlinePlus.Proton pump inhibitors.National Institutes of Health.Treatment for peptic ulcers (stomach ulcers).Cedars-Sinai.Ulcers.MedlinePlus.Peptic ulcer.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About sleep.American College of Gastroenterology.Peptic ulcer disease.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.2015.05.003Triantafyllidi A, Xanthos T, Papalois A, Triantafillidis JK.Herbal and plant therapy in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.Ann Gastroenterol. 2015;28(2):210-220.Hvas CL, Borre M, Fassov JL. [Nutrition and dietary supplement in chronic inflammatory bowel diesease].Ugeskr Laeger. 2017;179(31):V12160870.Slomski A.Daily aspirin increases gastrointestinal bleeding among older adults.JAMA. 2020;324(16):1599. doi:10.1001/jama.2020.20645FamilyDoctor.org.Ulcers.Lee SP, Sung IK, Kim JH, Lee SY, Park HS, Shim CS.Risk factors for the presence of symptoms in peptic ulcer disease.Clin Endosc. 2016;50(6):578-584. doi:10.5946/ce.2016.129
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.
Harvard Health Publishing.Peptic ulcer.Fang B, et al.Impact of subjective and objective sleep quality on peptic ulcer rebleeding in older adults, psychosomatic medicine.Psychosom Med.2021;83(9):995-1003. doi:10.1097/PSY.0000000000001001.Zha LF, et al.Effects of insomnia on peptic ulcer disease using Mendelian randomization.Oxid. Med. Cell. Longev.2021;2021:2216314. doi:10.1155/2021/2216314.Ko SH, Baeg MK, Ko SY, Han KD.Women who sleep more have reduced risk of peptic ulcer disease; Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2008-2009).Sci Rep. 2016;6:36925. doi:10.1038/srep36925.UCLA Health.Two commonly confused conditions.Simadibrata DM, Lesmana E, Amangku BR, Wardoyo MP, Simadibrata M.Left lateral decubitus sleeping position is associated with improved gastroesophageal reflux disease symptoms: A systematic review and meta-analysis.World J Clin Cases. 2023 Oct 26;11(30):7329-7336. doi:10.12998/wjcc.v11.i30.7329.Albarqouni L, Moynihan R, Clark J, Scott AM, Duggan A, Del Mar C.Head of bed elevation to relieve gastroesophageal reflux symptoms: a systematic review.BMC Fam Pract. 2021 Jan 19;22(1):24. doi:10.1186/s12875-021-01369-0.Schuitenmaker JM, Kuipers T, Oude Nijhuis RAB, Schijven MP, Smout AJPM, Fockens P,et al.Sleep Positional Therapy for Nocturnal Gastroesophageal Reflux: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Sham-Controlled Trial.Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2022 Dec;20(12):2753-2762.e2. doi:10.1016/j.cgh.2022.02.058.Drini M.Peptic ulcer disease and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.Aust Prescr. 2017;40(3):91-93. doi:10.18773/austprescr.2017.037Johns Hopkins Medicine.Stomach and duodenal ulcers (peptic ulcers).MedlinePlus.H2 blockers.MedlinePlus.Proton pump inhibitors.National Institutes of Health.Treatment for peptic ulcers (stomach ulcers).Cedars-Sinai.Ulcers.MedlinePlus.Peptic ulcer.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About sleep.American College of Gastroenterology.Peptic ulcer disease.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.2015.05.003Triantafyllidi A, Xanthos T, Papalois A, Triantafillidis JK.Herbal and plant therapy in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.Ann Gastroenterol. 2015;28(2):210-220.Hvas CL, Borre M, Fassov JL. [Nutrition and dietary supplement in chronic inflammatory bowel diesease].Ugeskr Laeger. 2017;179(31):V12160870.Slomski A.Daily aspirin increases gastrointestinal bleeding among older adults.JAMA. 2020;324(16):1599. doi:10.1001/jama.2020.20645FamilyDoctor.org.Ulcers.Lee SP, Sung IK, Kim JH, Lee SY, Park HS, Shim CS.Risk factors for the presence of symptoms in peptic ulcer disease.Clin Endosc. 2016;50(6):578-584. doi:10.5946/ce.2016.129
Harvard Health Publishing.Peptic ulcer.
Fang B, et al.Impact of subjective and objective sleep quality on peptic ulcer rebleeding in older adults, psychosomatic medicine.Psychosom Med.2021;83(9):995-1003. doi:10.1097/PSY.0000000000001001.
Zha LF, et al.Effects of insomnia on peptic ulcer disease using Mendelian randomization.Oxid. Med. Cell. Longev.2021;2021:2216314. doi:10.1155/2021/2216314.
Ko SH, Baeg MK, Ko SY, Han KD.Women who sleep more have reduced risk of peptic ulcer disease; Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2008-2009).Sci Rep. 2016;6:36925. doi:10.1038/srep36925.
UCLA Health.Two commonly confused conditions.
Simadibrata DM, Lesmana E, Amangku BR, Wardoyo MP, Simadibrata M.Left lateral decubitus sleeping position is associated with improved gastroesophageal reflux disease symptoms: A systematic review and meta-analysis.World J Clin Cases. 2023 Oct 26;11(30):7329-7336. doi:10.12998/wjcc.v11.i30.7329.
Albarqouni L, Moynihan R, Clark J, Scott AM, Duggan A, Del Mar C.Head of bed elevation to relieve gastroesophageal reflux symptoms: a systematic review.BMC Fam Pract. 2021 Jan 19;22(1):24. doi:10.1186/s12875-021-01369-0.
Schuitenmaker JM, Kuipers T, Oude Nijhuis RAB, Schijven MP, Smout AJPM, Fockens P,et al.Sleep Positional Therapy for Nocturnal Gastroesophageal Reflux: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Sham-Controlled Trial.Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2022 Dec;20(12):2753-2762.e2. doi:10.1016/j.cgh.2022.02.058.
Drini M.Peptic ulcer disease and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.Aust Prescr. 2017;40(3):91-93. doi:10.18773/austprescr.2017.037
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Stomach and duodenal ulcers (peptic ulcers).
MedlinePlus.H2 blockers.
MedlinePlus.Proton pump inhibitors.
National Institutes of Health.Treatment for peptic ulcers (stomach ulcers).
Cedars-Sinai.Ulcers.
MedlinePlus.Peptic ulcer.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About sleep.
American College of Gastroenterology.Peptic ulcer disease.
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
Triantafyllidi A, Xanthos T, Papalois A, Triantafillidis JK.Herbal and plant therapy in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.Ann Gastroenterol. 2015;28(2):210-220.
Hvas CL, Borre M, Fassov JL. [Nutrition and dietary supplement in chronic inflammatory bowel diesease].Ugeskr Laeger. 2017;179(31):V12160870.
Slomski A.Daily aspirin increases gastrointestinal bleeding among older adults.JAMA. 2020;324(16):1599. doi:10.1001/jama.2020.20645
FamilyDoctor.org.Ulcers.
Lee SP, Sung IK, Kim JH, Lee SY, Park HS, Shim CS.Risk factors for the presence of symptoms in peptic ulcer disease.Clin Endosc. 2016;50(6):578-584. doi:10.5946/ce.2016.129
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