Final answer:
Cimetidine and famotidine are H₂ blockers used to treat conditions like GERD, peptic ulcers, and excessive stomach acid production. They manage symptoms by reducing stomach acid, aiding in healing ulcers and providing heartburn relief.
Step-by-step explanation:
Cimetidine and famotidine are H₂-receptor antagonists with therapeutic uses in treating several gastric conditions. These medications work by reducing the production of stomach acid. They are commonly prescribed to treat conditions like gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), in which acid flows backward from the stomach leading to heartburn and esophagus injury. They are also used to manage peptic ulcers caused by Helicobacter pylori or the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) by reducing acid output and allowing for healing.
Moreover, they treat conditions that cause the stomach to produce too much acid, such as Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. For heartburn relief associated with acid indigestion and sour stomach, both cimetidine and famotidine are available over the counter. While H₂-receptor antagonists do not directly kill H. pylori bacteria, they create an environment less favorable for the bacteria and support the effectiveness of antibiotics used in triple therapy regimens to eradicate infections.