The goals of treatment are to relieve symptoms quickly, make the ulcer heal, and prevent it from recurring in the future. Treatment of HP infection is now recognized as the most important aspect of treatment and all ulcer patients who are infected with bacteria should be offered antibiotic therapy. Usually this requires a combination of drugs and many different combinations are available. Usually an acid suppressing drug is necessary, to relieve symptoms and induce ulcer healing, but also to boost the effects of the antibiotics. At the same time two antibiotics are usually necessary to ensure successful eradication of the infection.
Many different antibiotics are available, including amoxycillin, clarithromycin, and metronizadole.
Symptoms may take longer to disappear completely but, when they do, there is little need to perform further tests to ensure that treatment has worked. A few patients fail this therapy and require long term acid suppression therapy to prevent ulcer recurrence. Side effects - these are common but usually minor and disappear with continued treatment. Nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, headache and rash are other reported side effects. Metronidazole may cause a metallic taste in the mouth and can interact with alcohol to cause flushing and vomiting.