Pharmacology Despite their short half-lives (2 hours), Proton pump Inhibitors (PPIs) cause a prolonged suppression of acid secretion (up to 48 hours) because: A They are prodrugs and undergo activation gradually B They exit from the plasma and enter acid secretory canaliculi and stay there, blocking the secretion of acid for a long time C They irreversibly inhibit the proton pump molecule and hence, acid secretion requires synthesis of new proton pumps D They are available as enteric coated capsules, from which drug is gradually released 💡 Explanation Despite their short half-lives (2 hours), Proton pump Inhibitors (PPIs) cause a prolonged suppression of acid secretion (up to 48 hours) because: ✓ Correct Answer: C. They irreversibly inhibit the proton pump molecule and hence, acid secretion requires synthesis of new proton pumps