How to Relieve Stomach Ulcer Pain at Night

Updated on 2024-03-26 10:10:23 0 0

By Rachael Zimlich, BSN, RN

Medically reviewed by Jay N. Yepuri, MD

Ulcer pain relief at night can help you to improve sleep, even when ulcer symptoms seem worse at night. These sores are usually easy to diagnose, but symptoms can get worse without treatment. Simple steps, like sleeping on your left side, can reduce the discomfort of peptic ulcers.

These ulcer sores form in the lining of your stomach or the first part of the intestine called the duodenum. They are usually caused by Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and can be aggravated by stress, medications, and food.1

This article will explore the common symptoms of stomach ulcers, why they might feel worse at night, and how steps like changing your sleep position and avoiding late-night snacks can relieve ulcer-related pain.

Improving Sleep

Sleep is crucial to maintaining gastrointestinal tract health. Stomach ulcers can affect sleep quality, and poor sleep can make ulcers worse or cause them to return.23

One study found that people who slept nine or more hours each night had lower rates of stomach ulcers than those who slept seven hours. This suggests that sleep can have a protective effect against stomach ulcers.4

Stomach ulcers can disturb sleep for several reasons, and making a few simple changes may help to improve sleep quality and accelerate healing.

Sleeping Positions

Sleep habits can affect digestive system disorders like ulcers and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), two conditions with similar symptoms that are often confused with one another. Making changes to your sleep habits can help ease symptoms of both.5

Sleep on your left side: Because of digestive system anatomy, sleeping on your left side is recommended by the American College of Gastroenterologists (ACG). A review of studies on this sleeping position confirms that it can limit acid reflux, but more research is recommended.6
Sleep on your back with your head elevated: Healthcare providers often recommend that you sleep with the head of the bed elevated. Blocks used to raise the bed angle and/or wedge pillows can be used for elevation.7 If you sleep on your back, this can help to keep stomach acids from rising up in your digestive tract.

When you sleep on the right side, it puts the stomach higher than the esophagus and makes it easier for acid to flow back. Researchers are looking at ways to train people to sleep on their left side, including one study that evaluates a wearable device that vibrates when you sleep on the right side.8

Increased stomach acids from stress, spicy foods, and medications can exacerbate symptoms of GERD and peptic ulcers.1 These acids build up the most after eating, so if you eat late at night, discomfort can worsen when you sleep. Avoiding late-night snacks or meals may help ease symptoms.

Changing your sleep position can help with ulcer pain relief at night. These stomach ulcers can eventually heal, but usually only after medication and lifestyle changes like sleep position.

Medications

Your first instinct to manage the pain of a stomach ulcer may be to reach for an over-the-counter (OTC) pain reliever, but using NSAIDs is one of the leading causes of stomach ulcers. If you have a history of peptic ulcers or are at risk of developing an ulcer, talk to your healthcare provider about your NSAID use and consider alternative ways to manage your pain.9

Your healthcare provider can prescribe antibiotics if you have an ulcer caused by the H. pylori bacteria. Other medications to reduce stomach ulcer pain focus on reducing stomach acid or protecting your stomach lining, such as:10

Histamine receptor blockers (H2 blockers) like Pepcid or Zantac (famotidine) and Tagamet (cimetidine)11
Proton pump inhibitors (PPI) like Prilosec (omeprazole), Nexium (esomeprazole), Prevacid (lansoprazole), and Protonix (pantoprazole) 12
Antacids (prescription and OTC) which can limit acid production but healing an ulcer takes time
Mucosal protective agents like Carafate (sucralfate)13

Medications like Pepcid and Prilosec can be purchased OTC, but others (like Protonix) are only available with a prescription from a healthcare provider. Some people need a combination of medications and lifestyle changes to find relief.

Diet

Historically, it was thought that spicy or acidic foods could cause stomach ulcers, but evidence points to H. pylori and NSAID use as the primary causes.14

This doesn't mean that diet does not affect symptoms or how ulcers progress. Eating triggers the production of stomach acids. Consuming a big meal or certain foods can increase the acid in your stomach and aggravate an ulcer. This may be especially true at night due to the positioning of the stomach and the movement of acids.15

Alcohol and caffeine contribute to stomach ulcer pain and poor sleep quality.1310 Avoiding certain foods that trigger ulcer pain and limiting eating before bed can help relieve ulcer pain and improve sleep.

Sleep Hygiene

You can also try to improve your sleep with better sleep hygiene, which begins with eliminating distractions. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends taking the following steps to get better sleep.16

Create a space for sleep: Make sure your sleeping space is dark, quiet, and relaxing.
Remove screens: Televisions, computers, phones, tablets, and other electronic devices can make it more challenging to get a good night's sleep. Removing these items from your bedroom can reduce distractions.
Aim for consistency: Going to bed and waking up at the same time each day is good for sleep.
Cut back on snacks and drinks: Avoiding large meals, late-night snacks, caffeine, and alcohol before bed can help you sleep better.
Stay active: Regular exercise during the day and avoiding daytime napping can help you get more restful sleep at night.

How Long Does It Take for an Ulcer to Calm Down?

With an over-the-counter antacid, you may experience temporary symptom relief within a few minutes or hours. But healing of the ulcer itself typically takes between four and eight weeks, and medications used to treat ulcers (like PPIs) will take a few weeks.17

How Can I Get Immediate Relief From Ulcer Pain?

Over-the-counter (OTC) antacids can bring fast relief, as do products like Carafate (sucralfate) and Pepto-Bismol (bismuth subsalicylate) that coat the stomach.

Keep in mind that these medications aren’t meant to heal ulcers. They can relieve pain but are not a long-term fix.

Some studies have found that Pepto-Bismol, used with antibiotics, is effective in treating ulcers and gastritis caused by H. pylori infection.18 On the other hand, it contains an aspirin-like salicylate that can irritate the stomach. Talk to your healthcare provider before using this or other OTC options to treat your ulcer symptoms.

Consider home remedies and herbal products for ulcer pain relief at night, too. For example, Plantago ovata juice has shown results in coating the stomach lining and reducing inflammation.19 Other drinks that soothe ulcer inflammation include chamomile tea.20

What Is the Best Painkiller for Stomach Ulcers?

With OTC products, Tylenol (acetaminophen) is the safest and most effective pain relief option for people diagnosed with stomach ulcers.17 Aspirin poses risks and can cause stomach ulcers and bleeding.21 Ibuprofen and naproxen also can cause gastrointestinal damage.

NSAIDs that are called COX-2 inhibitors pose less risk. One review of the research ranked the NSAID options:9

Lower risk: Celebrex (celecoxib) and Advil (ibuprofen)
Intermediate risk: Voltaren (diclofenac) and Mobic (meloxicam)
Higher risk: Aleve (naproxen) and Indocin (indomethacin)

Speak with your healthcare provider about taking any of these medications.

Symptoms of Stomach Ulcers

The stomach and digestive tract are lined with delicate mucus membranes. Once damaged, this tissue can be easily aggravated, causing pain and other symptoms. A healthcare provider can diagnose the cause of your pain by asking about symptoms like:22

Pain or discomfort between meals or when you eat
Stomach pain that wakes you from your sleep
Becoming full quickly when you eat
Bloating
Burning or dull pain in your stomach
Pain that comes and goes over days or weeks
Discomfort that lasts several minutes to hours

More severe ulcers may cause:22

Nausea
Weight loss
Vomiting blood
Blood in your stool or dark stools
Back pain

Risk Factors for Stomach Ulcers

NSAID use and H. pylori infections are the most common causes of stomach ulcers, but there are risk factors that can increase your chances of developing these injuries. These damage or weaken your stomach lining and make your tissues more vulnerable to ulcer development. Risk factors include:23

Heavy alcohol consumption
Cigarette smoking
Being over age 60

When to See a Healthcare Provider

In most cases, ulcers will heal with treatment. If left untreated, they could get worse and lead to complications like:14

Gastrointestinal bleeding
Holes in the digestive system
Blockages or obstructions

Schedule an appointment with your healthcare provider if you think you have a stomach ulcer.

Seek Immediate Treatment

If you develop any of the following symptoms, seek immediate medical treatment:10

Vomiting bright red blood or dark material resembling coffee grounds
Bloody or tarry-looking stools
Nausea or vomiting that gets worse over time
Severe dizziness or weakness
Sudden or severe pains that extend to your back

Summary

Stomach ulcers are small wounds that can develop in your digestive tract. Bacteria and medications can cause ulcers, especially the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Ulcer pain can wake you up at night and cause problems with your sleep. Your healthcare provider can help you find the right combination of medications and lifestyle changes to treat stomach ulcers and improve sleep. Changing your sleep position may be one of the most important steps.

Ulcers aren't rare. Stomach ulcers affect more than 4 million Americans yearly, and one in 10 people will develop one in their lifetime.1 Still, they can lead to serious complications if left untreated. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best treatment for a stomach ulcer.

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