Proton pump inhibitors
The proton pump inhibitors omeprazole, esomeprazole, lansoprazole, pantoprazole and rabeprazole inhibit step in gastric acid production by blocking the hydrogen-potassium adenosine triphosphatase enzyme system or ‘proton pump’ of the gastric parietal cell. Proton pump inhibitors are effective short-term treatments for pepetic ulcers(gastric and duodenal ulcers) they are also used in combination with antibacterials for the eradication of Helicobacter pylori.
Proton pump inhibitors should be used with caution in patients with liver disease , in pregnancy and in breast-feeding.
The most common Side effects are diarrhoea, feeling or being sick, constipation, abdominal pain and headaches. They can also cause allergic reactions, itching, dizziness, swollen ankles, muscle and joint pain, blurred vision, depression and a dry mouth.