Which medication is commonly prescribed for heartburn or GERD?

Ranitidine is indeed a medication that has been commonly used to treat heartburn and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) due to its role as a histamine-2 blocker. It works by reducing the amount of stomach acid produced, providing relief from symptoms associated with excess acid, such as heartburn. However, it is important to note that ranitidine has been largely withdrawn from the market in many places due to safety concerns related to potential contamination with substances linked to cancer risk.

In contrast, omeprazole and esomeprazole, which are proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), directly inhibit the proton pump in the stomach lining, leading to a more effective reduction in stomach acid secretion over a longer duration compared to H2 blockers like ranitidine. Metoclopramide is not primarily used for treating GERD or heartburn; it is a prokinetic agent that aids in gastrointestinal motility and is often prescribed for conditions such as gastroparesis.

Given this context, while ranitidine may have been a common choice in the past for heartburn and GERD, current clinical practice often favors the newer PPIs like omeprazole or esomeprazole for their higher efficacy in long-term