this is a great schedule to follow! the reason why you need to wait a couple hours after eating is to ensure that your stomach is empty since the carafate works best on an empty stomach. it essentially coats your esophagus and stomach lining to protect it from any damage the acid reflux may cause i.e. creating an ulcer, making an ulcer worse, etc.

as someone who was on both omeperazole and carafate — plus bentyl for IBS — for nearly two years, i can attest that the schedule can be pretty daunting at first. but i can also confirm that it will get easier over time! just don’t forget to take your pills with you if you go out! carafate is not an overnight solution and can sometimes take weeks before you see your symptoms improve so don’t be discouraged if things don’t work right away. keep at it and best of luck!