GI pharmacology

Question 1

Which drug class does ‘ompeprazole’ belong to and what is it used for?

Answer 1

Proton Pump Inhibitor

- GORD, dyspepsia, H.pylori eradication

Question 2

Which drug class does ‘aluminium/magnesium hydroxide’ belong to and what are they used for?

Answer 2

Antacids

- GORD and dyspepsia

Question 3

Which drug class does ‘Ranitidine’ belong to and what is it used for?

Answer 3

H2 receptor antagonists

- Dyspepsia, peptic ulcers and GORD

Question 4

What are the 4 classes of laxatives/ purgatives used to treat constipation?

Answer 4

Bulk laxatives
Stimulant purgatives
Faecal softeners
Osmotic laxatives

Question 5

What is the drug ‘Loperamide’ used to treat?

Answer 5

It is an anti-motility drug used for symptomatic relief of diarrhoea (non-infective/ traveller’s diarrhoea)

Question 6

What are dopamine receptor antagonists, e.g Droperidol, used to treat?

Answer 6

Emesis

- drug induced/ GORD/ gastroparesis

Question 7

What are muscarinic Ach antagonists used to treat? Give an example of a drug

Answer 7

Emesis - motion sickness and IBS

e.h Hyoscine

Question 8

What are H1 antihistamines, e.g cyclizine, used for?

Answer 8

Emesis - motion sickness, morning sickness, PONV

Question 9

What are prokinetic drugs e.g metroclopramide used to treat?

Answer 9

GORD

gastroparesis

Question 10

What is an example of a 5 H3 receptor antagonists used for anti-emesis?

Answer 10

Ondansetron

Question 11

What 4 classes of drugs are used in the treatment of ulcerative colitis?

Answer 11

5 ASA
Corticosteroids
Immunosuppressants
Anti-TNF therapy

Question 12

What 3 classes of drugs are used in the treatment of Crohn’s Disease?

Answer 12

Corticosteroids
Immunosuppressants
Anti-TNF therapy

Question 13

What is an example of an immunosuppressant used to treat UC or Crohn’s?

Answer 13

Azathioprine

Question 14

Infliximab is a drug used to treat UC and Crohn’s Disease, which drug class does it belong to?

Answer 14

Anti-TNF therapy

Question 15

Sulphasalazine can be used to treat Ulcerative Colitis, to which drug class does it belong?

Answer 15

5 ASA

Question 16

Which corticosteroids can be used to treat Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s Disease?

Answer 16

Prednisolone and Budesonide

Question 17

What are mucosal strengtheners, e.g sucralfate used to treat?

Answer 17

GORD

Ulcers

Question 18

When are adjuvant antiemetics used?

Give an example of a drug class

Answer 18

To decrease emesis in patients who are undergoing chemotherapy and are unresponsive to the other anti-emetic drug classes
CANNABINOIDS e.g Nabilone

Question 19

Which receptors for emesis are present at the vomiting centre in the medulla and what are their neurotransmitters?

Answer 19

H1 (histamine) M1/M3 (acetylcholine) 5HT3 (serotonin)

Question 20

Which receptor for emesis is present in the pharynx and the GI tract and what is its neurotransmitter?

Answer 20

5HT3 (serotonin)

Question 21

Which receptors for emesis are present within the chemoreceptor trigger zone and what are the neurotransmitters for each of these?

Answer 21

M1 (acetylcholine) 
H1 (histamine) 
5HT3 (serotonin) 
Opioid (morphine) 
D2 (dopamine)

Question 22

Which emetic receptors are present within vestibular nuclei and what are the neurotransmitters for each of these?

Answer 22

H1 (histamine)

M1 ( acetylcholine)

Question 23

Which two anti-emetic drug classes act on the vomiting centre in the medulla?

Answer 23

H1 antagonists and Antimuscarinic drugs

Question 24

Which two anti-emetic drug classes act on vestibular nuclei?

Answer 24

H1 antagonists and Antimuscarinic drugs

Question 25

Which two anti-emetic drug classes act on the chemoreceptor trigger zone?

Answer 25

DA antagonists and 5HT3 antagonists

Question 26

Which class of drugs act on 5HT3 receptors in the pharynx and the GI tract?

Answer 26

Chemotherapy and radiotherapy drugs