Which is a hallmark example of a histamine receptor antagonist?

Which is a hallmark example of a histamine receptor antagonist?

• A. Pepcid (famotidine)
• B. Zantac (ranitidine)
• C. Tagamet (cimetidine)
• D. Axid (nizatidine)

Answer: (B)

Blocking histamine action at the H2 receptors on gastric parietal cells is the defining move of this class. These histamine receptor antagonists, called H2 blockers, reduce both basal and meal-stimulated acid secretion, which raises stomach pH and helps ulcers heal and GERD symptoms improve. A classic, widely recognized example of this group is ranitidine (Zantac). It became the go-to reference for what an H2 blocker does and how it’s used in practice. Other drugs listed, like famotidine, cimetidine, and nizatidine, are also H2 blockers, but ranitidine is the one most students associate with this hallmark class.

Blocking histamine action at the H2 receptors on gastric parietal cells is the defining move of this class. These histamine receptor antagonists, called H2 blockers, reduce both basal and meal-stimulated acid secretion, which raises stomach pH and helps ulcers heal and GERD symptoms improve. A classic, widely recognized example of this group is ranitidine (Zantac). It became the go-to reference for what an H2 blocker does and how it’s used in practice. Other drugs listed, like famotidine, cimetidine, and nizatidine, are also H2 blockers, but ranitidine is the one most students associate with this hallmark class.