This document discusses H2 receptor antagonists, which are drugs used to treat ulcers. It describes how excess acid secretion in the stomach can damage the mucus membrane and cause ulcers. H2 receptor antagonists work by blocking histamine from binding to H2 receptors on parietal cells, which inhibits gastric acid production. The document traces the development of H2 receptor antagonists from early compounds like burimamide and metiamide to more widely used drugs like cimetidine, ranitidine, and famotidine. It also introduces proton pump inhibitors, which directly inhibit the H+/K+ ATPase pump to block acid secretion. Common uses of H2 antagonists and proton pump inhibitors are described for treating