antidiarrheals and laxatives Flashcards
what drugs alter the motility of the GI tract
- antidiarrheal and antispasmodic (decrease motility and smooth muscle tone)
- laxatives (accelerate passage of food through intestine)
antidiarrheal drugs
- opioids
- adsorbents
- anticholinergics (antispasmodic)
diarrhea
abnormal passage of stools
- increased frequency, fluidity, and weight
- increased stool water excretion
acute diarrhea
sudden onset in previously healthy person
- 3 days-2 weeks
- self-limiting
- causes: microbial, drug-induced, nutritional
chronic diarrhea
- more than 3 weeks
- recurring passage of diarrheal stools, fever, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, weight loss, chronic weakness
- causes: tumour, diabetes, hormonal, IBS
opioids moa
activate receptors in GI tract:
- decrease bowel motility (increase bowel transit time and more water/electrolytes can be absorbed)
- decrease secretions and increase fluid absorption
opioids example
loperamide
- poorly absorbed
- poor access to CNS
diphenoxylate, paregoric, opium tincture
opioid adverse effects
excessive doses:
- drowsiness, sedation, dizziness, lethargy
- nausea, vomiting, anorexia, constipation
- respiratory depression
- bradycardia, palpitations, hypotension
- urinary retention
- flushing, rahs, urticaria
adsorbents
- not fully sure moa
- coat walls of GI tract
- bind to bacteria or toxin cause and eliminated through stool
- inhibit intestinal secretions
adsorbents examples and AE
- bismuth subsalicylate (also used for relief of stomach acid symptoms)
- AE: constipation, dark stools and tongue, metallic taste, blue gums
client care: antidiarrheal agents
do not give bismuth subsalicylate to children <16 or teens with viral infections
- reye’s syndrome
anticholinergic moa
- antagonist at cholinergic receptors
- decrease diarrheal muscle cramping
example:
- atropine
anticholinergics adverse effects
- CNS excitation: dizziness, confusion, anxiety
- blurred vision, photophobia, increased intraocular pressure
- dry mouth, dry skin
- CV (tachycardia)
- constipation
- urinary retention, hesitancy
constipation
abnormally infrequent and difficult passage of feces through the lower GI tract
- disorder of movement through intestines or rectum
- cause: diet, drugs, disease
complications of constipation
- hemorrhoids (enlarged rectal veins)
- anal fissure (cracks in anal lining)
- fecal impaction (manual removal needed)
- rectal prolapse (rectal tissue pushed out)
- lazy bowel