GI - laxatives Flashcards
what is constipation
slowed passage of food through GI tract
what % of people are affected by constipation
50+%
what are 6 possible causes of constipation
- drugs (opiates, antidepressants, iron suppl.)
- diet
- hydration
- exercise
- hormones
- IBS
what are purgatives / what do they do
accelerate passage of food through intestine and evacuation of bowels
what are 4 examples of purgatives
bulk laxatives, osmotic laxatives, stimulant purgatives, stool softeners
what are 2 uses for purgatives
relieve constipation or to clear bowel prior to surgery or examination
what are agents that increase motility of GI tract without causing purgation/ evacuation
D2 antagonist
what do D2 antagonists do to GI system
increase motility of GI tract without causing purgation/ evacuation
what are bulk laxatives
polysaccharide polymers not broken down by digestion in the upper part of the GI tract
what do bulk laxatives do in the lumen
form a bulky hydrated mass in gut lumen
what are 2 examples of bulk laxatives
methyl cellulose, ispaghula husk
how do bulk laxatives work
mechanical distention promotes peristaltic reflex
how long does it take for bulk laxatives to work
slow action (several days) but not absorbed
are there any unwanted effects with bulk laxatives and why
no because it is not absorbed
what are 2 examples of osmotic laxatives
lactulose and macrogols
what is lactulose
osmotic laxative, disaccharide of fructose and galactose
what are macrogols
inert ethylene glycol polymers (its okay if you dont know i think)
what kind of laxative is methyl cellulose
bulk
what kind of laxative is ispaghula husk
bulk
what kind of laxative is lactulose
osmotic
what kind of laxative is macrogols
osmotic
how do osmotic laxatives work
pooly absorbed, so produce osmotic load in lumen that draws water into gut lumen, softens stool and stretches gut to protmote peristalsis and defacation
how long do osmotic laxatives take to work
2-3 days
are there any bad side effects of osmotic laxatives and why
no because it is not absorbed
how do stimulant laxatives work
increase electrolyte and water secretion and/or increases peristalsis
what are 2 examples of stimulant laxatives
bisacodyl and senna
what is bisacodyl
stimulant laxative, suppository that can stimulate defacation in 15 mins
what is senna
stimulant laxative
how does senna work
active component (a glycoside) directly stimulates nerves in myenteric plexus to increase peristalsis and defection