The present invention relates to the use of pharmaceutically acceptable zinc salts, in particular, zinc chloride and zinc acetate, alone or optionally, in combinations with one or more of a protein pump inhibitor (PPI), H2 blocker, anti-H. pylori antibiotic/antimicrobial, cytoprotective agent or a combination agent as otherwise described herein for providing fast action with optional long duration effect in reducing gastric acid secretion, including acid secretion in the fundus (by inhibiting vacuolar H+-ATPase or H+/K+-ATPase) and upper body region of the stomach (by inhibiting H+/K+-ATPase), thus raising the pH of gastric juices in rapid fashion and decreasing the duration of stomach acid release during a secretagogue phase. This method is also directed to treating conditions including gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), non-erosive reflux disease (NERD), Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (ZE disease), ulcer disease, and gastric cancer, as well as preventing or reducing the likelihood of ulcer disease. In addition, the present methods are useful for treating patients who are non-responsive to proton pump inhibitors (PPI) and as an alternative to traditional therapies or conditions which are caused by rapid and complete inhibition of secretagogue induced acid secretion.