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How do acid-reducing medicines help treat ulcers not caused by Helicobacter pylori?

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For ulcers not caused by Helicobacter pylori—which are most commonly the result of long-term use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)—acid-reducing medications are essential for managing symptoms and promoting healing.12

These medicines work by lowering the concentration of gastric acid, which allows the damaged mucosal lining to recover. The primary classes of drugs used include:12

Histamine-receptor antagonists: Drugs such as cimetidine and ranitidine block the action of histamine on the stomach's acid-secreting parietal cells, effectively reducing acid production.13
Proton pump inhibitors: Medications like omeprazole and lansoprazole are the most potent acid-inhibitory drugs. They function by inhibiting the ATPase enzyme within parietal cells, blocking the final pathway of acid secretion.13

While withdrawing the use of NSAIDs is the primary step to allow an ulcer to heal, these acid-reducing agents are used to manage the condition when withdrawal is not possible or to provide relief during the healing process.2