Can patients with gastric ulcers take cephalosporins?

Patients with gastric ulcers can take cephalosporins, but they should do so with caution.

Cephalosporins are a class of antibiotics primarily used to kill or inhibit bacterial growth. For patients with gastric ulcers, if Helicobacter pylori infection is present, cephalosporin antibiotics may sometimes be used to treat this infection and thereby alleviate ulcer symptoms. However, cephalosporins may also cause gastrointestinal adverse reactions such as nausea, diarrhea, and gastrointestinal discomfort, which could potentially worsen symptoms of gastric ulcers. Moreover, not all gastric ulcers are caused by Helicobacter pylori. Even in cases where Helicobacter pylori is the cause, using cephalosporin antibiotics alone is often insufficient to achieve optimal therapeutic effects. In clinical practice, triple or quadruple therapy is usually employed, combining proton pump inhibitors and/or gastric mucosal protectants with two or more antibiotics, including cephalosporins, to improve eradication rates and reduce drug resistance.

For patients with bacterial infections, cephalosporin antibiotics may be used briefly under a doctor's guidance. However, for patients without bacterial infections or who have alternative treatment options, cephalosporins should be avoided to prevent exacerbating symptoms of gastric ulcers. At the same time, the use of any antibiotic must follow strict indications and dosage guidelines to avoid adverse reactions and the development of bacterial resistance associated with antibiotic misuse.