What type of medication is often prescribed alongside NSAIDs to protect the gastrointestinal tract?

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are frequently associated with gastrointestinal side effects, such as ulcers and bleeding. This is primarily due to their mechanism of action, which inhibits the production of prostaglandins. Prostaglandins play a crucial role in maintaining the protective mucosal layer of the gastrointestinal tract. By decreasing their production, NSAIDs can compromise this defense, leading to increased gastric acidity and erosion of the stomach lining.

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are a class of medications that work by reducing the production of stomach acid. They inhibit the proton pump in the gastric lining, leading to decreased gastric acidity. When prescribed alongside NSAIDs, PPIs can help mitigate the risk of gastrointestinal complications by creating a less acidic environment in the stomach and promoting healing of any existing mucosal damage.

In contrast, antibiotics, antihypertensives, and diuretics do not provide the necessary protective effects for the gastrointestinal tract and serve different therapeutic purposes. Antibiotics are used to treat bacterial infections, antihypertensives are employed to manage high blood pressure, and diuretics help remove excess fluid from the body. Therefore, PPIs are specifically recognized as the appropriate adjunct therapy when NSAIDs are prescribed, to safeguard the