According to the nomenclature established by the World Health Organization (WHO) to devise international nonproprietary names (INNs), the INNs of anti-ulcer drugs derived from ben-zimidazole end in the stem -prazole (1). These anti-ulcer drugs (proton pump inhibitors or PPIs) reduce gastric acid secretion by inhibiting the proton pump of the gastric wall (2). Five drugs with this stem were authorised in France as of 3 April 2019: lansoprazole; omeprazole and one of its isomers, esomeprazole; pantoprazole; and rabeprazole. The main adverse effects of these drugs are: neuropsychi-atric disorders (headache, dizziness, fatigue, paraesthesia, blurred vision, and insomnia); gastrointestinal disorders (diarrhoea, constipation, nausea and vomiting, flatulence, and abdominal pain); rebound acid hypersecretion after withdrawal, making discontinuation difficu anaemia; a possible increased risk of certain gastrointestinal infections; bacterial pneumonia; arthralgia, myalgia; immune-mediated disorders; and hyponatraemia. Some studies have shown higher mortality among patients on long-term PPI therapy than with histamine H2-antagonist therapy (2).
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