BASIC - GASTROINTESTINAL & HAEMATOLOGY Flashcards
Names of bulk-forming laxatives?
Ispaghula husk, methylcellulose, sterculia
Indications of bulk-forming laxatives?
- Constipation (patients who can’t increase dietary fibre)
- Mild chronic diarrhoea
Mechanism of bulk-forming laxatives?
- Hydrophilic substance (polysaccharide or cellulose), not absorbed or broken down in gut
- Attracts water into stool and increases its mass
- Increased stool bulk stimulates peristalsis to help relieve constipation
- Need adequate fluid intake
Side effects of bulk-forming laxatives?
- Mild abdominal distension and flatulence
- Rarely, faecal impaction and GI obstruction
Contraindications of bulk-forming laxatives?
- Colonic Atony
- Intestinal obstruction
- Faecal impaction
- Undiagnosed rectal bleeding
Prescription of bulk-forming laxatives?
- Oral granules, powder to be dissolved in water or tablets (methylcellulose)
- Dose to be taken with at least 150ml liquid
- Preferably after meals, morning and evening – e.g. 1 sachet BDS
Names of stimulant laxatives?
Senna, Bisacodyl, glycerol suppositories
Indications of stimulant laxatives?
Constipation
As suppositories for faecal impaction
Mechanism of stimulant laxatives?
- Stimulant laxatives increase water and electrolyte secretion from the colonic mucosa
- Increasing volume of colonic content and stimulating peristalsis
- Direct pro-peristaltic action, although the exact mechanism differs between agents
o Bacterial metabolism of Senna in intestine produces metabolites that have a direct action on the enteric nervous system, stimulating peristalsis
o Rectal administration of glycerol suppositories, provokes a similar but more localised effect and can be useful to treat faecal impaction
o Docusate sodium has both stimulant and faecal softening actions
Side effects of stimulant laxatives?
- Abdominal pain/cramps
- Diarrhoea
- Prolonged use
o Melanosis coli (reversible pigmentation of intestinal wall)
Contraindications of stimulant laxatives?
- Contraindications for Senna
o Intestinal Obstruction
o Atony
o Undiagnosed abdominal pain - Contraindications for glycerol suppositories
o Avoid in haemorrhoids or anal fissures - Avoid during pregnancy
Prescription of stimulant laxatives?
- Regular oral administration, usually BDS
- When rectal, PRN or once only
Prescription in palliative care?
Prescribe a softener and stimulant (Movicol, co-danthrosate)
Names of osmotic laxatives?
Lactulose, Macrogol (Movicol), phosphate enema
Indications of osmotic laxatives?
Constipation and faecal impaction – 1st line Movicol in paediatrics
Bowel preparation prior to surgery or endoscopy
Hepatic encephalopathy – lactulose
Mechanism of osmotic laxatives?
- Osmotically active substances (sugars/alcohol) that remain in gut lumen
- Hold water in stool
- Maintain volume and stimulate peristalsis
- Lactulose
o Reduces ammonia absorption by increasing gut transit rate and acidifying stool
o Inhibits proliferation of ammonia-producing bacteria
o Useful in hepatic encephalopathy
Side effects of osmotic laxatives?
- Flatulence
- Abdominal cramps
- Nausea
- Diarrhoea
- Phosphate enema
o Local irritation, electrolyte disturbances
Interactions of osmotic laxatives?
- Effects of warfarin may be slightly increased
Contraindications of osmotic laxatives?
- Contraindications
o Intestinal obstruction (risk of perforation)
o Severe IBD
o Toxic Megacolon - Contraindications for lactulose
o Galactosaemia
Caution of phosphate enema?
o Heart failure, ascites, electrolyte disturbances
Prescription of osmotic laxatives?
- Orally used prescribed regularly
- May take a few days for an effect to be seen, as need to pass through GI tract
- Phosphate enema PRN or once only
- Taken with or without food
Name of antimotility drugs?
Loperamide
Indications of loperamide?
- Symptomatic treatment of diarrhoea
- Chronic diarrhoea
- Faecal incontinence
Mechanism of loperamide?
- Opioid similar to pethidine however does not penetrate CNS
- Agonist of opioid u-receptors in GI tract
- Reduces peristaltic contractions of gut smooth muscle
- Transit of bowel contents is slowed and anal sphincter tone is increased
Side effects of loperamide?
- Constipation
- Abdominal cramping
- Flatulence
Cautions of loperamide?
- Acute ulcerative colitis – risk of perforation and megacolon
- C.diff colitis
- Acute bloody dysentery
- Children <12 years old
Prescription of loperamide?
- Purchased OTC – 4mg followed by 2mg following each loose stool to maximum of 8mg per day
- Usually tablets or capsules
Names of antacids?
Gaviscon, Peptac
Indications of antacids?
- Mild GORD
- Dyspepsia
Mechanisms of antacids?
- Usually an alginate with one or more antacids (sodium bicarbonate, calcium carbonate, magnesium or aluminium salts)
- Antacids – buffer stomach acids
- Alginates – increase viscosity of stomach contents, reducing reflux
- Form a floating raft, separating gastric contents from GOJ
Side effects of antacids?
- Diarrhoea (magnesium), constipation (aluminium)
Interactions of antacids?
- Divalent cations bind to other drugs and reduce absorption
o ACEi, cephalosporins, ciprofloxacin, tetracyclines, bisphosphonates, digoxin, levothyroxine, PPIs - Increase alkalinity of urine – increase excretion of aspirin and lithium
Contraindications of antacids?
- Caution in fluid overload or hyperkalaemia (sodium or potassium containing preparations)
Prescription of antacids?
- Oral suspensions or chewable tablets
- Take following meals, before bedtime and/or symptomatically
Communications to have in antacids?
- Discuss lifestyle measures to reduce GORD
o Smaller meals, avoiding food and drink triggers, stop smoking, raising head of bed - Leave a gap of >2 hours when taking medications that interact
- Come back if symptoms of bleeding, vomiting, dysphagia and weight loss
Names of H2RA?
Ranitidine
Indications of ranitidine?
- Peptic ulcer disease (2nd line)
- GORD
- Dyspepsia
- Gastric acid reduction in obstetrics
Mechanism of ranitidine?
- H2 receptor antagonists reduce gastric acid secretion
- Acid usually produced by proton pump of gastric parietal cell
- Proton pump can be stimulated by other things than histamine so cannot completely suppress gastric acid production