Two medicines, side by side
Misoprostol vs sucralfate
Misoprostol and sucralfate are both labeled for acid reflux and ulcers. Drugs@FDA records approvals of misoprostol since 1988 and of sucralfate since 1981. Pharmacies paid $0.719 per misoprostol 200 mcg tablet and $0.173 per sucralfate 1 g tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. In FDA's classes, misoprostol is a prostaglandin e1 analog and sucralfate an aluminum complex.
Check it at the source: the misoprostol FDA label on DailyMed (effective June 4, 2026); the sucralfate FDA label on DailyMed (effective September 2, 2026).
Highlights of the misoprostol record
Misoprostol (Cytotec) · label of June 4, 2026
CYTOTEC (MISOPROSTOL) ADMINISTRATION TO WOMEN WHO ARE PREGNANT CAN CAUSE BIRTH DEFECTS, ABORTION, PREMATURE BIRTH OR UTERINE RUPTURE. UTERINE RUPTURE HAS BEEN REPORTED WHEN CYTOTEC WAS ADMINISTERED IN PREGNANT WOMEN TO INDUCE LABOR OR TO INDUCE ABORTION. THE RISK OF UTERINE RUPTURE INCREASES WITH ADVANCING GESTATIONAL AGES AND WITH PRIOR UTERINE SURGERY, INCLUDING CESAREAN DELIVERY (see also PRECAUTIONS and LABOR AND DELIVERY ).
Used for
From the label: indicationsCytotec (misoprostol) is indicated for reducing the risk of NSAID (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, including aspirin)–induced gastric ulcers in patients at high risk of complications from gastric ulcer, e.g., the elderly and patients with concomitant debilitating disease, as well as patients at high risk of developing gastric ulceration, such as patients with a history of ulcer. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- December 27, 1988
- Generic labelers
- 13 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.719 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 1
Highlights of the sucralfate record
Sucralfate (Carafate) · label of September 2, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsSucralfate is indicated in: • Short-term treatment (up to 8 weeks) of active duodenal ulcer. While healing with sucralfate may occur during the first week or two, treatment should be continued for 4 to 8 weeks unless healing has been demonstrated by x-ray or endoscopic examination. • Maintenance therapy for duodenal ulcer patients at reduced dosage after healing of acute ulcers.
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- October 30, 1981
- Generic labelers
- 43 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.173 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 6
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Misoprostol label of June 4, 2026, Sucralfate label of September 2, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do misoprostol and sucralfate differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, misoprostol is a prostaglandin e1 analog and sucralfate an aluminum complex.
Only the misoprostol label carries a boxed warning.
Generics: misoprostol since 2002; sucralfate since 1996 (Drugs@FDA).
| Misoprostol | Sucralfate | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Acid reflux and ulcers | Acid reflux and ulcers |
| Pharmacologic class | Prostaglandin E1 Analog | Aluminum Complex |
| How it works (label) | n/a | n/a |
| Half-life (label) | In normal volunteers, Cytotec (misoprostol) is rapidly absorbed after oral administration with a T max of misoprostol acid of 12 ± 3 minutes and a terminal half-life of 20–40 minutes. | n/a |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | December 27, 1988 | October 30, 1981 |
| First generic approved | July 10, 2002 | March 29, 1996 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 13 labelers | 43 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.719 per tablet (Misoprostol 200 mcg tablet) | $0.173 per tablet (Sucralfate 1 g tablet) |
| 12-month price change | +14% | -6% |
| Boxed warning | Yes | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 1 | 6 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 9,682 | 23,820 |
| DEA schedule | none | none |
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages and recalls, FAERS via openFDA (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Alternatives to misoprostol
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions