Is aluminum phosphate gel an antibiotic?
Disease description:
Recently, I experienced vomiting and diarrhea. After visiting the hospital, I was diagnosed with gastroenteritis, and was prescribed aluminum phosphate gel for treatment. May I ask, is aluminum phosphate gel an antibiotic?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Shen Yonghua
Aluminum phosphate gel is not an antibiotic; it is a commonly used gastrointestinal mucosal protective agent. Its main component is aluminum phosphate, which forms a protective layer on the mucosa of the stomach and duodenum to isolate the mucosa from irritation caused by gastric acid, pepsin, and other substances, thereby relieving symptoms such as stomach pain and heartburn.
Antibiotics are a class of drugs that can inhibit or kill the growth and reproduction of other microorganisms and are primarily used to treat various bacterial infections. Unlike antibiotics, aluminum phosphate gel mainly forms a protective layer on the gastric mucosa through its unique physical properties, isolating irritation from gastric acid, pepsin, and food, and promoting the repair of gastric mucosa.
When using aluminum phosphate gel, medical instructions should be followed, attention should be paid to drug interactions and contraindications, and adverse reactions should be avoided. Aluminum phosphate gel does not possess the bactericidal or bacteriostatic effects of antibiotics and should not be confused or used interchangeably with antibiotics.
