Which GI medications are prescribed most often?

Omeprazole was the most prescribed GI medication in 2022, representing 17.6% of all gastroenterology drugs prescribed that year. 

Classified as a proton-pump inhibitor, omeprazole (also sold as Prilosec) is used to treat heartburn, esophageal damage, stomach ulcers and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). In 2022, GERD was the number-two GI diagnosis. 

The second-most prescribed gastroenterology drug in 2022 was pantoprazole sodium (also sold as Protonix), another proton-pump inhibitor used to treat GERD and other gastroesophageal issues. With 17.3% of total GI prescriptions, pantoprazole was prescribed nearly as frequently as omeprazole in 2022. 

Studies comparing omeprazole and pantoprazole sodium have found both drugs to be equally effective in treating GERD. However, one study suggests that pantoprazole may be more effective for treating gastric ulcers.

Famotidine was the third-most prescribed GI medication in 2022, with 5.8% of all GI prescriptions. Also sold as Pepcid, this H2 antagonist is also used to treat GERD, heartburn, and ulcers.  

Proton-pump inhibitors help to treat and prevent GI issues such as GERD, esophageal damage caused by acid reflux, and stomach ulcers by considerably reducing the amount of acid produced in the stomach. To achieve this, they irreversibly block the gastric proton pump—known also as the hydrogen/potassium adenosine triphosphatase enzyme system—within the cells that produce stomach acid.

GI medications like omeprazole and pantoprazole sodium can reduce stomach acid production by up to 99%, enabling the healing of ulcers and inflammation throughout the GI tract. However, having too little stomach acid can prevent the absorption of certain proteins, vitamins and other nutrients. This can usually be corrected by reducing or eliminating proton-pump inhibitor use.

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