Block 1: Constipation Flashcards
What is constipation?
Occurrence of fewer than 3 bowel movements/week associated with strainign and difficult passage of hard, dry stools
Untreated constipation can lead to ?
- Hemorrhoids
- Anal fissures
- Rectal prolapse
- Fecal impaction
Causes of constipation?
- Med problems and meds
- Psychological and physiological conditions
- Lifestyle, inadequate fluid and fiber
Meds that can cause constipation?
- Opiates
- Anticholinergics
- Iron
- NSAID
What is normal stool according to Bristol?
3-4
What are exclusions of constipation self-care?
- Abdominal pain or distenstion
- Fever, N/V
- Use of laxatives
- Blood in stool
- Over 2 weeks sx, recurrance within 3 months
- Anorexia
- <2 YO
- Excessive flatulence
What are alarm sx of constipation?
- Hematochezia
- Melena
- Hx of colon cancer or IBD
- Anemia
- Weight loss
- ANorexia
- N/V
- Severe or persistnat
- New or worsening
What are non-pharm of constipation?
- Adequate fiber intake (25g women, 38g for men) (fiber supplement)
- Increase fluid intake
- Behavior mod (bowel training)
- Increase PE
- 1 month trial
- Squatty potty
Classes of laxatives
- Softening of feces in 1-3 days
- Soft or semifluid stool in 6-12 hr
- Watery evacuation in 1-6 hr
Types of stool softners 1-3 days?
Type of semifluid laxatives 6-12hr?
Type of fluid laxatives 1-6hr?
What are your bulk forming agents? MOA?
methylcellulose, polycarbophil, and psyllium
Absorb fluid from the intestines, swell to form soft, bulky stool
Counseling points bulk forming agents?
- Onset 12-24hr, delay up to 72 hr
- Adequate fluids
ADRs of bulk forming agents?
- Cramping, farts
- Avoid in patient who have difficulty swallowing
- Avoid patients on fluid restriction
Types of hyperosmotics? MOA?
- PEG3350
- Glycerin
- Lactulose
Draw water into the colon or rectum through osmosis to stimulate a bowel movement
Onset of effect: 12-72 hours, can take up to 96 hours
What are the ADRs of hyperosmotic?
- Bloating
- Abdominal discomfort
- Cramping
- Fart
No DDI
What hyperosmotic is a suppositories? Indications?
Glycerin (15-30 min) aprroved for all ages
What are the emollients? MOA?
Docusate
Act in the small and large intestine to increase the wetting efficiency of intestinal fluid
Facilitates mixture of aqueous and fatty substances to soften the fecal mass
Combo with stimulants to help with evac
ADRs of docusate
Limited
Onset: 12-72 hr up to 3-5 days
What are lubricants? MOA?
Mineral oil
Softens fecal content by coating stool and preventing colonic absorption of fecal water
Indications for mineral oil?
Formulation: liquid (onset 6-8 hours) or rectal (5-15 minutes)
Should not be used in children < 6 years, pregnant women, bedridden or older adults, and individuals with difficulty swallowing
Should be avoided
What ar the types of saline laxatives? MOA?
Magnesium citrate, magnesium hydroxide, dibasic sodium phosphate, monobasic sodium phosphate, magnesium sulfate
- Draw water into the small and large intestine or colon by osmosis
- Increase intraluminal pressure and promote GI motility
- Available as oral (onset 30 mins – 3 hours) or rectal (2-15 mins)
ADRs and DDIs of saline laxatives?
- Abdominal cramping
- N/V
- Dehydration
Cation in renal impairment, newborns, older adults
What are examples of stimulants used with docusate? MOA?
- Senna
- Bisacodyl
- Castor-oil
Increases intestinal motility, increases secretion of water and electrolytes in the intestines
Onset 6-10 hours for oral, bisacodyl supp 15-60 mins