Which category reduces gastric acid production?

• A. Proton Pump Inhibitors
• B. Antiemetic
• C. Antacids
• D. Prokinetic

Answer: (A)

Gastric acid production is reduced by blocking the final step of acid secretion in the stomach’s parietal cells. Proton pump inhibitors do this by irreversibly inhibiting the H+/K+ ATPase proton pump on the luminal surface of these cells, which directly lowers the amount of acid that can be released into the stomach. This results in a sustained, significant decrease in acidity, making them effective for conditions like GERD and ulcers.

Antiemetics help prevent nausea and vomiting, but they don’t change how much acid the stomach produces. Antacids neutralize existing stomach acid after it’s already released, raising the pH temporarily without affecting production. Prokinetics improve the movement of the GI tract and can reduce reflux by speeding gastric emptying, but they don’t primarily suppress acid production.