Sucralfate
Prescription ·Exploratory record · not publication-reviewed ·Updated July 13, 2026
Sucralfate is a locally acting aluminum salt of sulfated sucrose used primarily for duodenal ulcer treatment and maintenance. In acidic environments it forms a viscous protective complex that adheres to ulcerated mucosa and can reduce absorption of many oral drugs and some nutrients, so timing separation is central to safe use.
Exploratory record, not a reviewed medical publication.
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This generated database record has not completed a claim-level review by a qualified human medical reviewer. Bibliography links and evidence labels are not approval. The page remains available for reference and is excluded from search indexing.
What the research says.
A quick, data-only summary. The full evidence, dosing, and sources are below.
Sucralfate is a locally acting aluminum salt of sulfated sucrose used primarily for duodenal ulcer treatment and maintenance. NutriStack rates the supporting evidence as strong. Common adult dosing is Active duodenal ulcer: 1 g orally four times daily on an empty stomach for 4 to 8 weeks. Maintenance therapy is commonly 1 g twice daily., though a prescriber sets the actual dose. With long-term use it can deplete phosphorus. This profile indexes 3 sources.
The bottom line
Evidence rating strong. Most-documented uses: short-term treatment of active duodenal ulcer, maintenance therapy after duodenal ulcer healing, mucosal protection when acid injury contributes to symptoms. 3 sources indexed (1986–2026), with 0 interaction records on file.
How it works, mechanistically.
Core mechanism
In gastric acid, sucralfate polymerizes and cross-links to form a sticky, negatively charged paste that binds positively charged proteins at ulcer bases. This barrier limits acid, pepsin, and bile salt injury while promoting local prostaglandin, mucus, and bicarbonate defenses. Minimal systemic absorption occurs, but small amounts of aluminum can be absorbed and accumulate in advanced kidney disease.1,3
Dosing & protocol.
Take on an empty stomach, typically 1 hour before meals and at bedtime. Separate other oral medications and mineral supplements because sucralfate can bind them and reduce absorption.
What it depletes.
Nutrients this medication can lower over time, and what to replace.
Phosphorus
ModerateAluminum in sucralfate can bind intestinal phosphate and reduce absorption, especially with prolonged use or low dietary intake.
Full safety detail.
Side effects
- Constipation
- Nausea
- Dry mouth
- Dyspepsia
- Flatulence
- Bezoar formation in high-risk hospitalized patients
- Hypophosphatemia with prolonged use or low intake
- Aluminum accumulation and toxicity in significant renal impairment
Contraindications
- Known hypersensitivity to sucralfate1,3
- Use caution in chronic kidney disease or dialysis because absorbed aluminum can accumulate2
- Use caution in patients at risk for impaired gastric emptying or bezoar formation
- Avoid unsupervised long-term use when phosphate intake is poor or renal function is impaired
Sources, by evidence tier.
Numbered references. Citations throughout the page link here.
Reviews & position papers
2- 1Drug interactions with sucralfateMcCarthy DM · American Journal of Medicine · 1991
Review describes clinically relevant adsorption and timing strategies for coadministered oral medications.
- 2Aluminum toxicity in chronic kidney diseaseAlfrey AC · Kidney International · 1986
Aluminum exposure is most hazardous in advanced kidney disease and can contribute to bone and neurologic toxicity.
Reference material
1- 3Sucralfate Tablets US Prescribing InformationURLU.S. National Library of Medicine · DailyMed · 2026
Labeling describes 1 g four times daily dosing, drug binding interactions, and renal aluminum accumulation warnings.
Common questions.
Quick answers about Sucralfate, drawn from the data on this page.
What is Sucralfate?
Sucralfate is a locally acting aluminum salt of sulfated sucrose used primarily for duodenal ulcer treatment and maintenance. In acidic environments it forms a viscous protective complex that adheres to ulcerated mucosa and can reduce absorption of many oral drugs and some nutrients, so timing separation is central to safe use.
What is Sucralfate used for?
Commonly cited benefits of Sucralfate include: Short-term treatment of active duodenal ulcer; Maintenance therapy after duodenal ulcer healing; Mucosal protection when acid injury contributes to symptoms; Off-label protection in selected stress-related or reflux-related mucosal injury situations. NutriStack rates the overall evidence as strong.
What is a typical dose of Sucralfate?
A typical adult dose of Sucralfate is Active duodenal ulcer: 1 g orally four times daily on an empty stomach for 4 to 8 weeks. Maintenance therapy is commonly 1 g twice daily.. The commonly recommended form is Oral tablet or oral suspension taken on an empty stomach. These are general ranges, not personalized advice; confirm the right dose with a clinician.
What are the side effects of Sucralfate?
Reported side effects include constipation, nausea, dry mouth, dyspepsia, flatulence, bezoar formation in high-risk hospitalized patients. This is educational information; check with a healthcare professional before use.
How strong is the evidence for Sucralfate?
NutriStack rates this as Strong, meaning multiple high-quality meta-analyses or systematic reviews converge on the same finding. Full tier criteria are at https://nutristackapp.com/methodology/evidence-tiers.
Use this with your stack
Sucralfate in NutriStack.
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