Somashield-O Oral Suspension Sugar Free is used to treat peptic ulcers or gastrointestinal ulcers. It also treats hyperacidity, heartburn, indigestion, and gastritis (inflammation of the stomach). The stomach is usually protected from acid by a mucous layer. In some cases, due to excess acid production, the mucous layer gets eroded, which leads to complications like acidity and heartburn. A peptic ulcer is a sore on the stomach's lining or the first part of the small intestine (duodenum). Ulcers or sores of the stomach region are called gastric ulcers, while the duodenum ulcer is known as a duodenal ulcer.

Somashield-O Oral Suspension Sugar Free is a combination of two medicines: Sucralfate and Oxetacaine. Sucralfate is a gastrointestinal protectant that works by forming a protective barrier or coat over the ulcer so that digestive enzymes, acid and bile salts cannot further irritate the lining of the stomach duodenum. This protects the ulcer from the acid of the stomach, allowing it to heal. Besides this, Oxetacaine is a local anaesthetic that exerts a numbing effect, thereby providing relief from pain due to ulcers or acidic injury in the stomach.

It is better to take Somashield-O Oral Suspension Sugar Free an hour before a meal or without a meal for its best results. Your doctor will advise you on how often you take Somashield-O Oral Suspension Sugar Free based on your medical condition. Some people may experience common side effects like constipation, dizziness, sleepiness, dry mouth, blurred vision, and diarrhoea. Most of these side effects of Somashield-O Oral Suspension Sugar Free do not require medical attention and gradually resolve over time. However, if the side effects persist or worsen, please consult your doctor.

If you are known to be allergic to Somashield-O Oral Suspension Sugar Free or active and inactive ingredients present on it, please tell your doctor. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, it is advised to consult a doctor before using Somashield-O Oral Suspension Sugar Free. Somashield-O Oral Suspension Sugar Free should not be given to children as safety has not been established. Try not to stop taking Somashield-O Oral Suspension Sugar Free of your own. Stopping a sudden intake of Somashield-O Oral Suspension Sugar Free will not influence the frequency or severity of future ulceration. Avoid taking aluminium and magnesium-containing antacids with Somashield-O Oral Suspension Sugar Free. Aluminium-containing antacids and Somashield-O Oral Suspension Sugar Free could lead to constipation and intestinal obstruction, whereas magnesium-containing antacids might cause diarrhoea.  Avoid consuming alcohol along with Somashield-O Oral Suspension Sugar Free as it could lead to increased acidity.

Somashield-O Oral Suspension Sugar Free belongs to a group of anti-ulcerants used to treat acidity, heartburn, gas and stomach ulcers. Somashield-O Oral Suspension Sugar Free is a combination of two medicines: Sucralfate (anti-ulcer) and Oxetacaine (Local anaesthetic). Sucralfate works by forming a protective barrier or coat over the ulcer to pepsin and bile and inhibiting gastric acid diffusion. This protects the ulcer from the acid of the stomach, allowing it to heal. It exhibits a cytoprotective effect and forms a viscous, adhesive barrier on the intact intestinal mucosa and stomach surface. It also stimulates the synthesis and release of gastric mucosal prostaglandins and bicarbonate and the epidermal growth factor that stimulates healing and formation of new healthy skin. On the other hand, Oxetacaine exerts a numbing effect, thereby providing relief from pain due to ulcers or acidic injury in the stomach. It does not lose its activity even in strongly acidic conditions and provides prolonged anaesthetic action.

• Constipation

• Dizziness

• Sleepiness

• Dry Mouth

• Nausea

You should avoid taking Somashield-O Oral Suspension Sugar Free if you are allergic to Somashield-O Oral Suspension Sugar Free or other ingredients present in it.  Inform your doctor before taking Somashield-O Oral Suspension Sugar Free if you have a history of appendicitis, blockage of the bowel, rectal bleeding, kidney problems, low-magnesium diet, or if you have undergone recent bowel surgery. Caution is required before giving Somashield-O Oral Suspension Sugar Free to elderly patients. Sucralfate in Somashield-O Oral Suspension Sugar Free contains aluminium, which is normally removed by your kidney. Therefore, older adults and people who have kidney problems may be at greater risk for developing high aluminium levels while using this drug with other products that contain aluminium (e.g. antacids). Do not take Somashield-O Oral Suspension Sugar Free if you are pregnant or breastfeeding unless prescribed by the doctor. The safety and effectiveness in children are not established, please consult your doctor before giving them Somashield-O Oral Suspension Sugar Free. Avoid consuming alcohol along with Somashield-O Oral Suspension Sugar Free as it could lead to increased acidity. 

Drug-Drug Interaction: Somashield-O Oral Suspension Sugar Free interact with the antacid drug (aluminium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide), anti-HIV drug (dolutegravir), vitamin D analogs (doxercalciferol, paricalcitol), antibiotic (ciprofloxacin, gemifloxacin, levofloxacin), antidiabetic (acarbose, metformin, glipizide, glimepiride, glyburide), blood thinner (warfarin).

Drug-Food Interaction: Drinking alcohol and nicotine (tobacco) with Somashield-O Oral Suspension Sugar Free may cause dehydration and elevate the level of stomach acid thereby decreasing Somashield-O Oral Suspension Sugar Free efficacy.

Drug-Disease Interaction: Before taking Somashield-O Oral Suspension Sugar Free it is better to inform your doctor if you have any kidney or liver disease as a dose of Somashield-O Oral Suspension Sugar Free needs to be adjusted.

• ALUMINIUM HYDROXIDE
• MAGNESIUM HYDROXIDE
• DOLUTEGRAVIR
• DOXERCALCIFEROL
• PARICALCITOL
• CIPROFLOXACIN
• GEMIFLOXACIN
• LEVOFLOXACIN
• ACARBOSE
• METFORMIN
• GLIPIZIDE
• GLIMEPIRIDE
• GLYBURIDE
• WARFARIN

• Avoid intake of acid or heartburn triggering foods or drinks like peppermint, chocolate, onions, caffeinated beverages, citrus fruits or juices, tomatoes, and high-fat and spicy foods.

• Eating five or six smaller meals throughout the day rather than three large meals. It can help reduce the production of stomach acid.

• Avoid taking alcohol and smoking cigarettes and red meat. It increases the production of stomach acid and makes symptoms worse. It can also cause erosion of the stomach lining.

• Include the high fiber-containing foods, leafy green veggies (kale, spinach), green tea in your meal. Fermented dairy products like miso, sauerkraut, and kimchi contain probiotics which help in the prevention of excess acid production.

• Cranberry juice can be beneficial in peptic ulcer and H. pylori infections.

• If your condition does not improve even after taking Somashield-O Oral Suspension Sugar Free for 4-5 weeks, please consult your doctor.  Do not take Somashield-O Oral Suspension Sugar Free for more than 8 weeks. 

• Sucralfate in Somashield-O Oral Suspension Sugar Free contains aluminium, so if you are a kidney patient, let your doctor know about this before taking Somashield-O Oral Suspension Sugar Free.

Gastrointestinal ulcer: The stomach is usually protected from acid by a mucous layer. In some cases, due to excess acid production, the mucous layer gets eroded, which leads to complications like acidity. Due to this, acid frequently flows back into the food pipe (oesophagus). This backflow (acid reflux) irritates the food pipe and causes heartburn. Symptoms include heartburn, a sour or bitter taste in the mouth, and difficulty swallowing. Indigestion is the feeling of fullness. It occurs due to slow gastric emptying. Symptoms include stomach pain, bloating, heartburn, nausea and vomiting. A peptic ulcer is a sore on the stomach's lining or the first part of the small intestine (duodenum). Ulcers or sores of the stomach region are called gastric ulcers, while the duodenum ulcer is known as a duodenal ulcer.