PPI versus Acid Reducer

[DoOver 17]

I didn't know until a few months ago that an acid reducer and a PPI were two different meds.

A PPI is a proton pump inhibitor which acts by blocking a vital step in the chemical formation of hydrochloric acid.

An acid reducer, an H-2 receptor blocker, acts by blocking the histamine-2 (H2) receptors, so histamine cannot bind to the sites that stimulate the acid production. H2-blockers also reduce gastric juice volume.

From everything I've read the acid reducers are the safer med. I didn't kow this when I started taking a PPI. I'd bought OTC acid reducers and was managing with those. But the PPI did a much better job so I switched. Now I wish I had stayed on the acid reducer as I do think there might be a rebound issue that's harsher with the PPI.

Just wanted to put this out there that they are different meds in how they work. The chemical acid reducers that are now OTC have been around much longer than the PPI's. I wish I'd have discussed this issue more with my surgeon but, as I said, I didn't know there was a significant difference in how they worked.

[mommy to2 1]

Thanks for the info

[ssriley 52]

I just switched to an acid reducer when I ran out of Prilosec OTC, and I noticed what seemed like a rebound effect myself. I hadn't heard that the PPI carry more risk. Why is that?