Which medication is an H2 receptor antagonist?

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Multiple Choice

Which medication is an H2 receptor antagonist?

The key idea is recognizing how an H2 receptor antagonist works and how it differs from the other common acid-suppressing options. An H2 receptor antagonist like cimetidine blocks histamine H2 receptors on gastric parietal cells, which reduces both baseline and meal-stimulated acid secretion. This raises gastric pH and helps alleviate symptoms of GERD and peptic ulcers. In contrast, the other drugs here use different approaches: proton pump inhibitors such as lansoprazole and omeprazole inhibit the proton pump (the H+/K+ ATPase) to achieve stronger, longer-lasting acid suppression; sucralfate acts as a mucosal protectant that coats and shields ulcers rather than lowering acid production. So the medication that is an H2 receptor antagonist is cimetidine. Keep in mind that H2 blockers have a quicker onset but are generally less potent than PPIs, and cimetidine can interact with other drugs via CYP450 enzymes and may cause central nervous system effects in some patients.

The key idea is recognizing how an H2 receptor antagonist works and how it differs from the other common acid-suppressing options. An H2 receptor antagonist like cimetidine blocks histamine H2 receptors on gastric parietal cells, which reduces both baseline and meal-stimulated acid secretion. This raises gastric pH and helps alleviate symptoms of GERD and peptic ulcers.

In contrast, the other drugs here use different approaches: proton pump inhibitors such as lansoprazole and omeprazole inhibit the proton pump (the H+/K+ ATPase) to achieve stronger, longer-lasting acid suppression; sucralfate acts as a mucosal protectant that coats and shields ulcers rather than lowering acid production.

So the medication that is an H2 receptor antagonist is cimetidine. Keep in mind that H2 blockers have a quicker onset but are generally less potent than PPIs, and cimetidine can interact with other drugs via CYP450 enzymes and may cause central nervous system effects in some patients.

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