Osmosis video - Acid reducing medications

Acid-reducing medications are a type of drugs that work to reduce the amount of acid in a person's stomach. There are three main groups of acid-reducing medications. The most common type is called a proton pump inhibitor (PPI). This type of medication inhibits the enzyme called H, K-ATPase, which blocks gastric acid secretion by parietal cells of the stomach. PPIs include drugs like omeprazole, esomeprazole, and pantoprazole.

The second group consists of H2 receptor blockers. H2 receptor blockers work by blocking histamine H2 receptors located on parietal cells of the stomach. This in turn inhibits the release of gastric acid. Examples of H2 receptor blockers include cimetidine, famotidine, and nizatidine. The last group consists of antacids, which work by neutralizing stomach acid that's already been produced. Examples of antacids include magnesium trisilicate and aluminum hydroxide.