Can omeprazole be used for atrophic gastritis? Is it a "cure" or a "cause"?

A friend asked Huazi that he had atrophic gastritis. During the treatment, someone said that omeprazole could be used. However, he also saw an article saying that the use of omeprazole might induce atrophic gastritis. What is going on? Does omeprazole "cure" or "cause" the disease?

Hua Zi said that there is no direct relationship between omeprazole and atrophic gastritis. Although some articles say that omeprazole may induce atrophic gastritis, it will only happen under special conditions. As long as the drug is used reasonably, the risk of using omeprazole is not great.

1. Causes of atrophic gastritis

Atrophic gastritis is a description of a pathological condition, which refers to the reduction of gastric mucosal glands, atrophy and thinning of the mucosa, and the appearance of epithelial tissue of the small intestine and large intestine replacing the epithelial tissue of the gastric mucosa in some parts of the mucosa, which is called intestinal metaplasia. A small number of atrophic gastritis patients have the risk of cancer.

The formation mechanism of atrophic gastritis is that the gastric mucosa is repeatedly damaged , and during the repair process, pathological changes occur in the gastric mucosa.

The main cause of repeated damage to the gastric mucosa is Helicobacter pylori infection ; followed by drug factors such as long-term use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, glucocorticoids and other drugs; long-term stimulation of the gastric mucosa caused by bile reflux, pancreatic juice reflux, etc.; heart failure, cirrhosis, uremia and other diseases leading to gastric mucosal ischemia and hypoxia; as well as autoimmune and genetic factors.

2. 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, proton pump inhibitors (various prazole drugs, such as omeprazole, lansoprazole, rabeprazole, etc.) are essential therapeutic drugs .

Proton pump inhibitors can reduce gastric acid secretion and reduce damage to the gastric mucosa. When used in conjunction with antibacterial drugs to kill Helicobacter pylori, they can greatly promote the repair of the gastric mucosa .

Some patients with atrophic gastritis will experience symptoms of excessive gastric acid secretion, acid reflux, and belching, and they also need to use proton pump inhibitors to control the symptoms.

3. Irrational use of medication may lead to risks

When using proton pump inhibitors such as omeprazole, you need to take it according to the doctor's prescribed course of treatment. If you take it for too short a time, it may cause the disease to recur and be difficult to cure.

If taken for too long, it will cause the stomach to be in a low-acid environment for a long time, which will reduce the stomach's barrier capacity and make it vulnerable to invasion by some pathogenic bacteria in food, leading to gastric mucosal damage. This is why omeprazole may also induce atrophic gastritis, but the probability of this happening is very low.

When using proton pump inhibitors, you must follow the doctor's instructions . If you need to take it for a long time, you need to undergo regular gastroscopy and adjust the medication in time if you find any problems, so as to prevent the risk of medication caused by insufficient gastric acid.

IV. Drug treatment of atrophic gastritis

The most important thing in treating atrophic gastritis is to eliminate the factors that damage the gastric mucosa, and then use the stomach's repair ability to recover. In other words, the main treatment for atrophic gastritis is to "nourish the stomach." Drug treatment is only in an auxiliary position , and only symptomatic treatment is provided for the symptoms that appear.

If there is excessive gastric acid secretion , you can use drugs that inhibit gastric acid, commonly used proton pump inhibitors and H2 receptor inhibitors (various "tidine" drugs such as ranitidine and famotidine).

If the gastric mucosal damage is severe , gastric mucosal protective agents such as potassium citrate bismuth, colloidal bismuth pectin, and sucralfate can be used.

If there is functional dyspepsia , gastrokinetic drugs such as domperidone, mosapride, and itopride can be used.

If the secretion of digestive enzymes is insufficient , digestive enzyme preparations such as compound azintamide and compound digestive enzymes can be used.

If accompanied by symptoms of anxiety and depression , negative emotions will aggravate atrophic gastritis, and anti-anxiety and antidepressant drugs need to be used under the guidance of a psychologist.

While taking medication, you should also pay attention to your diet, avoiding stimulation while maintaining food diversity and ensuring a balance of vitamins, proteins, and various trace elements. You can take nutritional supplements if necessary.

To sum up, the cause of atrophic gastritis is repeated damage to the gastric mucosa. When omeprazole is used reasonably, it not only does not cause repeated damage to the gastric mucosa, but also has a therapeutic effect on atrophic gastritis.

However, atrophic gastritis is a disease that is difficult to completely cure in a short period of time. Most people need long-term intermittent treatment . Rational use of medication under the guidance of a doctor can control the progression of the disease, relieve symptoms, and prevent cancer. If you have any questions about medication, please consult a doctor or pharmacist. I am pharmacist Huazi. Welcome to follow me and share more health knowledge.