I was on Somac in conjunction with some fairly strong anti-inflammatory pills a while back. My understanding of their function is that they inhibit the actual production of the acid in the stomach by counteracting the functioning of the glands that produce the acid. The way a regular antacids work is that it dilutes the acid once it is already produced (i.e. it alkalinises it). I asked the chemist this very question and that is what he told me. Please, anyone else feel free to correct me if I am wrong.