PPIs, or proton-pump inhibitors, are a class of drugs that are frequently used to treat disorders like Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, peptic ulcers, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) that are caused by excessive production of gastric acid. Proton pumps are the stomach lining enzymes that produce gastric acid, and PPIs function by preventing them from doing their job. PPIs work as follows to achieve their goals:

Irreversible Inhibition of Proton Pumps: PPIs bind to and inhibit the proton pump, also known as the hydrogen-potassium adenosine triphosphatase (H+/K+ ATPase) enzyme, in an irreversible manner. This enzyme is found on the parietal cells’ secretory surface, which lines the stomach. Protons are actively transported from the cytoplasm into the stomach lumen by parietal cells via the proton pump. Duration of effect: Because PPIs bind to the proton pump enzyme irreversibly, they have a prolonged duration of effect. The parietal cells need to produce new proton pumps to replace the ones that the PPI suppressed, even after the drug has been eliminated from the body. This is a gradual procedure that keeps the stomach acid secretion suppressed long after the medicine is stopped.

PPIs exhibit selective action by selectively targeting the proton pumps located in the parietal cells of the stomach lining, which is the site of acid secretion. In contrast to other drugs that suppress acid production, including histamine H2-receptor antagonists (H2 blockers), PPIs directly inhibit the proton pump enzyme, resulting in a more powerful and prolonged acid suppression.

Reducing stomach acid can help heal gastric ulcers and esophagitis.