Home • Veterinary Pharmacy Articles • Antacids Oral

Veterinary Pharmacy Articles

Antacids Oral

Why has my veterinarian prescribed this medicine?

Antacids are used to neutralize excess acid (decrease the amount of acid) in the stomach. Antacids can be used for inflammation of the esophagus, excessive acid in the stomach, peptic ulcer and inflammation of the stomach. In patients with kidney failure, antacids may be used to decrease the amount of phosphate in the blood.

How do I give this medication to my pet?

Give this medication to your pet as directed by your veterinarian. Read the label carefully.
If the medicine is a liquid, measure the dose accurately.
Try to give this medication at about the same time each day.
Do not give the pet more medicine than directed.
Do not give the medicine more often than directed.
Try not to miss giving any doses.

What do I do if I miss giving my pet a dose?

Give the dose as soon as possible. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose, and continue with the regular schedule. Do not give the pet two doses at once. Contact your veterinarian if you miss giving doses two or more days in a row.

How and where do I store this medicine?

Keep this medicine out of reach of children.
Store this medicine in a cool, dry place at room temperature. Store away from heat and direct sunlight.
Do not store this medicine in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink or in damp places. The medicine may break down if exposed to heat or moisture.

What side effects should I be aware of?

Your pet may experience constipation if you are using aluminum or calcium containing antacids and diarrhea and/or loose stools with magnesium containing antacids.
Other side effects may occur. If you notice anything unusual, contact your veterinarian.

Possible drug interactions

Make sure to tell your veterinarian what other medication you are giving to your pet.
Quite often your veterinarian may prescribe two different medications, even if a drug interaction may occur. In this case, your veterinarian may vary the dose and/or monitor your pet more closely.
The following are examples of medicines that can potentially interact with oral antacids: tetracycline, chlordiazepoxide, captopril, chloroquine, cimetidine, corticosteroids, digoxin, iron salts, indomethacin, isoniazid, ketoconazole, nitrofurantoin, pancrelipase, penicillamine, phenothiazines, phenytoin, ranitidine, sodium polystyrene sulfonate, aspirin, quinidine and valproic acid.
Contact your veterinarian if your pet experiences any unusual reactions when different medications are given together.

The Pet Health Library contains information on some of the most common medical problems of dogs and cats. This information is designed to assist pet owners in better understanding their pets' health problems.

Cat Friendly Practice

In the United States, there are millions more owned cats than owned dogs, yet cats visit veterinarians less frequently than dogs. A major reason is that it is very stressful to take cats to the veterinary practice and often owners believe their cat doesn't need routine check-ups for wellness and preventive care. The Cat Friendly Practice® (CFP) program, created by expert feline practitioners, provides a solution to this trend and provides an opportunity for veterinary practices to elevate care for cats and reduce the stress during the visit.