Final answer:
Cimetidine and Ranitidine are part of the H₂ blockers class of medications used to reduce stomach acid production, treating ulcers, GERD, and acid-related conditions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Cimetidine, Ranitidine, and similar medications like famotidine belong to a class of drugs known as H₂ blockers or H₂-receptor antagonists. These medications work by decreasing the amount of acid produced in the stomach. They are commonly used to treat conditions such as ulcers, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, which involves overproduction of stomach acid. H₂ blockers are effective in preventing and managing heartburn symptoms related to acid indigestion and sour stomach.
Unlike antacids, which neutralize existing stomach acid, H₂ blockers act by blocking the action of histamine on the stomach's acid-producing cells, reducing acid secretion. This mechanism is distinctly different from proton pump inhibitors like omeprazole, which also reduce stomach acid but do so by a different pathway, targeting the enzyme responsible for secreting acid into the stomach.