Two medicines, side by side
Sucralfate vs omeprazole
Sucralfate and omeprazole are both labeled for acid reflux and ulcers. Drugs@FDA records approvals of sucralfate since 1981 and of omeprazole since 1989. Pharmacies paid $0.173 per sucralfate 1 g tablet and $0.0295 per omeprazole DR 20 mg capsule (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. Omeprazole's other strengths are brand-only: $14.75 per pen (Prilosec DR 2.5 mg suspension). In FDA's classes, sucralfate is an aluminum complex and omeprazole a proton pump inhibitor.
Check it at the source: the sucralfate FDA label on DailyMed (effective September 2, 2026); the omeprazole FDA label on DailyMed (effective April 22, 2024).
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
Highlights of the omeprazole record
Omeprazole (Prilosec) · label of April 22, 2024
Used for
From the label: indicationsOmeprazole is a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) indicated for the: Treatment of active duodenal ulcer in adults ( 1.1 ) Eradication of Helicobacter pylori to reduce the risk of duodenal ulcer recurrence in adults ( 1.2 ) Treatment of active benign gastric ulcer in adults ( 1.3 ) Treatment of symptomatic gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in patients 1 year of age and older ( 1.4 ) Treatment of erosive esophagitis […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- September 14, 1989
- Generic labelers
- 118 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0295 per capsule
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- A presentation being discontinued
- Recalls
- 7
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Sucralfate label of September 2, 2026, Omeprazole label of April 22, 2024); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do sucralfate and omeprazole differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, sucralfate is an aluminum complex and omeprazole a proton pump inhibitor.
Generics: sucralfate since 1996; omeprazole since 2002 (Drugs@FDA).
| Sucralfate | Omeprazole | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Acid reflux and ulcers | Acid reflux and ulcers |
| Pharmacologic class | Aluminum Complex | Proton Pump Inhibitor |
| How it works (label) | n/a | Omeprazole belongs to a class of antisecretory compounds, the substituted benzimidazoles, that suppress gastric acid secretion by specific inhibition of the H + /K + ATPase enzyme system at the secretory surface of the gastric parietal … |
| Half-life (label) | n/a | disease classified as Child-Pugh Class A (n=3), B (n=4) and C (n=1), the bioavailability increased to approximately 100% compared to healthy subjects, reflecting decreased first-pass effect, and the plasma half-life of … |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | October 30, 1981 | September 14, 1989 |
| First generic approved | March 29, 1996 | November 1, 2002 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 43 labelers | 118 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.173 per tablet (Sucralfate 1 g tablet) | $0.0295 per capsule (Omeprazole DR 20 mg capsule) |
| 12-month price change | -6% | -7% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | A presentation being discontinued |
| Recalls recorded | 6 | 7 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 23,820 | 446,179 |
| 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 sucralfate
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions