Proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) are medications that significantly reduce stomach acid production by irreversibly inhibiting the gastric proton pump (H+/K+ ATPase). They are used to treat various conditions, including peptic ulcers, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and hypersecretion syndromes, and include drugs such as omeprazole, lansoprazole, rabeprazole, and pantoprazole. Common side effects can include headaches, nausea, and abdominal pain, with less frequent serious reactions like rhabdomyolysis.