Los inhibidores de la bomba de protones conforman el subgrupo terap?utico de mayor consumo en nuestro pa?s, siendo para los consumidores el omeprazol el ?protector? m?s popular. El consumo en Espa?a dobla al de pa?ses vecinos. ?A qu? se debe este consumo tan elevado? ?Est?n siendo prescritos de forma adecuada? Mediante una encuesta se entrevista aquellos pacientes que acuden a la oficina de farmacia solicitando un inhibidor de la bomba de protones. Entorno a la mitad de las prescripciones son injustificadas. En su mayor?a indicados de forma cr?nica en pacientes polimedicados sin tratamiento concomitante con f?rmacos gastrolesivos, aumentando el riesgo de padecer efectos adversos.

Proton-pump inhibitors are the therapeutic subgroup with the biggest consumption in our country, being omeprazole the most ?protector? popular for consumers. Consumption in Spain doubles that of neighboring countries. Why is this consumption so high? Is this drug being prescribed appropriately? Patients who came to the pharmacy requesting a protons-pump inhibitor were interviewed. About half of all the prescriptions are unjustified. Most of the time indicated chronically in patients polymedicated without a concomitant treatement with gastro-damaging drugs, increasing the unnecessary risk of experiencing side effects.