Paper II — 2023 July (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) — Q1
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Paper II
2023 July (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme)
Question
(
(a) Enumerate four drug groups used in treatment of peptic ulcer with two
examples each.
( 2 mark(s)
(b) Briefly describe the mechanism of action, uses and adverse effects of any one
group.
( 3 mark(s)
(c) Mention the drug group which gives immediate symptom relief in a patient with
peptic ulcer. 1 mark(s)
Q16 marksEssays
Answer
a) Four drug groups for peptic ulcer, two examples each
Group
Examples
Proton pump inhibitors
Omeprazole, Lansoprazole
H2 receptor antagonists
Ranitidine, Famotidine
Antacids
Aluminium hydroxide, Magnesium trisilicate
Mucosal protective agents
Sucralfate, Misoprostol
b) One group in detail — Proton pump inhibitorsMOA: PPIs are prodrugs that accumulate in the acidic parietal cell canaliculus, are converted to their active sulfenamide form, and irreversibly bind H⁺/K⁺-ATPase (the proton pump), blocking the final common step of acid secretion regardless of the stimulating pathway. Uses: peptic ulcer disease, GERD, H. pylori eradication, Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. Adverse effects: hypomagnesemia, increased fracture risk, vitamin B12 deficiency, increased susceptibility to enteric infections (including C. difficile) with long-term use.
c) Drug group giving immediate symptom reliefAntacids — they directly neutralize existing gastric acid by simple acid-base chemistry, providing rapid but short-lived symptomatic relief, unlike acid-suppressing classes which reduce future acid production but don’t neutralize acid already present.
