Proton-pump inhibitors for gastric acid-related disease.

Proton-pump inhibitors are the most effective drugs introduced to date for suppressing gastric acid production. Although they are used to treat the same conditions as histamine type-2 receptor antagonists, they differ from the latter drugs in how they inhibit acid production, and in how they should be given. Initial concerns over potential ill effects of hypergastrinemia due to long-term acid suppression with proton-pump inhibitors have been unfounded.