Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs): the complete list
All 6 proton pump inhibitors we track, ranked by our independent FDA recall-safety score. Unlike a plain list, every drug here carries its safety record, what it treats, whether a generic exists, and how long it stays in your body.
Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are a class of medications that lower stomach acid. Doctors use them for acid reflux and GERD, peptic ulcers, ulcers linked to H. pylori or NSAIDs, and rare acid-overproduction conditions such as Zollinger-Ellison syndrome.
How they work: They block the H+/K+ ATPase enzyme — the "proton pump" — in the stomach's parietal cells, which is the final step of acid secretion. Shutting down that pump decreases the amount of acid the stomach makes.
What everyone taking one should know
Long-term use carries cautions worth knowing: low blood magnesium (hypomagnesemia), reduced vitamin B12 and iron absorption, a higher risk of Clostridium difficile and other intestinal infections, and possible links to bone fractures. Stopping after prolonged use can trigger rebound acid — a surge above pre-treatment levels.
| Drug | Safety | Generic? | Treats |
|---|---|---|---|
| esomeprazole magnesium | 72/100 | Brand only | Duodenal Ulcer, Esophagitis |
| lansoprazole Half-life: about 1.5 hours | 58/100 | Yes | Duodenal Ulcer, Esophagitis |
| dexlansoprazole | unrated | Brand only | Peptic Esophagitis, Gastroesophageal Reflux |
| omeprazole magnesium Half-life: about 0.5 to 1 hour | unrated | Yes | Duodenal Ulcer, Esophagitis |
| pantoprazole sodium | unrated | Brand only | Esophagitis, Gastroesophageal Reflux |
| rabeprazole sodium | unrated | Brand only | Duodenal Ulcer, Gastroesophageal Reflux |
Ranked by our independent recall-safety score (higher is better), which reflects the FDA recall and enforcement record — not effectiveness. A higher score is not medical advice to switch; which drug is right for you is a prescriber’s decision. 4 are unrated (too little regulatory history to score) and sort last.
Sources
Other drug classes: NSAIDs · Statins · Benzodiazepines · Opioids · Beta blockers · SSRIs · SNRIs · ACE inhibitors · ARBs · Calcium channel blockers · Macrolide antibiotics.
The list is built from the FDA’s Established Pharmacologic Class tags, so it reflects the drugs in this class that we track (one row per active ingredient). Safety scores come from the FDA recall and enforcement record. This is general reference information, not medical advice — do not start, stop or switch a medication based on it; talk to your prescriber or pharmacist.