RTS Flashcards
Let’s talk about 💩…
What is constipation?
Passing of dry, hard stools less frequently than a person’s normal bowel habit.
What is typical of a ‘normal’ bowel habit?
2-3 times/day to 1-2 times/week
When would you consider referring someone who presented with constipation?
1) dark red/black stools - especially if associated with other symptoms such as weight loss –> indicative of something more sinister like bowel Cancer
2) bright red blood seen on passing stools or when wiping –> ?haemorrhoids
3) > 14 days with no identifiable cause
4) pain when trying to pass stools
5) constipation in addition to following symptoms lethargy, weight gain, mood swings, coarse hair or dry skin –> ? Hypothyroidism
6) drug induced –> opioids, Hyoscine, SSRIs, TCAs, verapamil, propranolol, aluminium containing antacids, iron, chlorphenamine, bendroflumethiazide
7) continuous use of laxatives –> loss of bowel muscle activity –> induces constipation
What lifestyle advice would you give to a patient presenting with constipation?
Increase fruit and veg intake
Increase wholemeal food intake I.e wholemeal cereals
Increase fluids
Increase regular exercise
What is the recommended amount of exercise?
150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise/ week
E.g cycling, brisk walking
Activities which get your heart rate up
+
2 days of strength exercises e.g weights to help maintain strong bones and muscle function
What is the treatment protocol for constipation?
1st line: lifestyle advice
2nd line: osmotic or bulk forming laxatives
3rd line: stimulant laxatives
How do osmotic laxatives exert their therapeutic effect and name some examples which can be purchased from the pharmacy?
MOA: increase osmotic pressure in the large bowel by drawing water into the bowel or helping to retain the fluid that is already there.
E.g
lactulose
Macrogols - movicol or laxido
What are the main S/E of osmotic laxatives?
S/E particularly with lactulose (20% of people experience the following):
Flatulence
Abdominal cramps
How do bulk forming laxatives exert their therapeutic effect and name some examples which can be purchased from the pharmacy?
MOA: human body does not naturally possess the enzymes to break down active ingredients of bulk forming laxatives –> e.g ispaghula, methylcellulose. This allows the laxative to pass straight through and increase the mass in the large bowel to help stimulate peristalsis. The hydrated material also allows bacteria naturally found in the gut to colonise and help soften stools.
E.g
fybogel - ispaghula
Celevac - methylcellulose
How do stimulant laxatives exert their therapeutic effect and name some examples which can be purchased from the pharmacy?
MOA: directly stimulates the mucosa of large bowel and rectum; promoting peristalsis and accumulation of water and electrolytes into the intestinal mucosa
E.g
Senokot- Senna
Dulcolax - Bisacodyl
What is important to counsel a patient on when they are taking bulk forming laxatives?
Drink plenty of fluids to avoid oesophageal and intestinal obstruction
How long do the following laxatives take to exert a therapeutic effect?
Osmotic
Bulk forming
Stimulant
Osmotic -> 2-3 days
Bulk forming -> 24hrs to 3days
Stimulant -> 6-12hours
Ages for use of laxatives in Children.
Osmotic
Bulk forming
Stimulant
Stool softeners
Osmotic:
Lactulose > 1yo
Movicol paediatric > 2yo
Bulk forming:
Ispaghula > 6yo
Methylcellulose > 7yo
Stimulant:
Senna > 2yo
Bisacodyl > 4yo
Glycerol suppositories -> infant onwards
Stool softeners
Docusate sodium > 6months
What is diarrhoea?
Increased bowel movements of watery or abnormally soft stools.
Usually accompanied by abdominal cramps, nausea and vomiting and lethargy may also occur.
When should you refer patients presenting with diarrhoea?
1) patients > 50yo with a LONG TERM change in bowel habit
2) diarrhoea following recent travel to tropical/ sub-tropical climates
3) duration > 2-3 days in children and elderly
4) patients unable to drink fluids with signs of dehydration
5) blood/mucus in stools
6) severe abdominal pain
7) steatorrhoea - fatty stools
What is the treatment protocol for diarrhoea?
1st line: oral rehydration therapy - preventing dehydration
E.g diarolyte sachets
1 sachet in 200mL of water
Contains sodium, glucose, potassium, chloride, citrate
Keep well hydrated
2nd line: loperamide 2mg tablets
Opioid receptor analogue/ anti-propulsive
E.g Imodium
What is the MOA of loperamide?
Opioid receptor analogue. Also known as anti-propulsive.
Binds to opioid receptors in the gut and reduces peristalsis, increases gut transit time and enhancing resorption of water and electrolytes.
Loperamide also increase tone of anal sphincter which helps reduce faecal incontinence and urgency.
What counselling points would you give to patients presenting with diarrhoea?
1) hand hygiene- always wash hands with soap and dry well with a clean towel
2) avoid drinking fizzy drinks, milk (as temporary lactose intolerance occurs due to damage to intestinal lining cells), fruit as these may all prolong diarrhoea
3) reconstitute powders with boiled and cooled water (recommended)
4) avoid sharing water or drinking untreated water if abroad
5) avoid shellfish and fish unless fresh and from freshwater
6) eat fresh foods, no uncooked meat
What is a cough?
A natural protective reflex action which is triggered by an irritation or blockage in the airways - to help clear airways.
In a productive cough, excess sputum is secreted in response to irritation of the airways.
When should you refer someone who presents with a cough?
1) cough lasting for more than 3 weeks
2) coloured sputum (indicative of chest infection)
3) blood in sputum (haemoptysis)
4) cough associated with persistent fever and night sweats and haemoptysis - indicated TB
5) persistent harsh barking cough - croup (viral infection which is common in young children)
6) difficulty breathing
7) chest pain
8) recurrent night time cough - indicative of asthma
9) ACEIs
What OTC treatments are available for dry coughs?
Cough suppressant -
Dextromethorphan - e.g. Robitussin
Pholcodeine
Codeine
What OTC preparations are available for mucus/ productive chesty coughs?
Expectorants
guifenasin - e.g benylin mucus cough
What can demulcent preparations be used for?
*demulcent = relieves irritation/inflammation and provides a protective film
Used to smooth any type of cough
E.g simple linctus, honey and lemon
What OTC antihistamine preparations are available that may help to relieve coughs?
*antihistamines are thought to help dry up secretions that may be triggering the cough
Examples include:
Diphenhydramine- benylin chesty cough (original)
Promethazine (night nurse)
Triprolidine (actifed)
What is dyspepsia?
Dyspepsia is an umbrella term which covers the following:
1) non-ulcer dyspepsia/ functional dyspepsia (indigestion)
2) GORD/ heartburn
3) gastritis
4) duodenal ulcers
5) gastric ulcers
Pain may be felt in the upper abdomen all the way up to the oesophagus. Heartburn may also be associated with an acid taste in the mouth.
What cough medicines should you NOT give to people presenting with a productive/ chesty cough?
Cough suppressants as these may lead to accumulation of mucus in the lungs and a higher chance of infection.
An unproductive cough (dry, tickly) is usually caused by what?
Viral infection - self limiting
Define ‘sore throat’
Constant or varying levels of pain from the back of the throat. Swollen lymph glands may be felt under the chin or in the neck.
Pain may be experienced upon swallowing (dysphagia)
Sore throats are commonly caused by viral or bacterial infections?
90% viral
10% bacterial
When would you consider referring someone who presents with a sore throat?
1) lasting longer than 10days
2) extreme pain - especially in absence of cold/cough and symptoms lasting for greater than 1-2days
3) dysphagia
4) red and swollen tonsils/ swollen lymph glands
5) drugs - e.g methotrexate, carbimazole (agranulocytosis), steroid inhalers
6) oral thrush - white plaques in the throat, gums and/or tongue
Which types of drugs may cause the symptoms of heartburn?
Tricyclic antidepressants
NSAIDs
CCBs
Caffeine
When would you consider referring someone who presents with symptoms of heartburn/indigestion?
Children
Pain which radiates
Dysphagia
Drug induced
Persistent pain originating from one point in the abdomen (may indicate gastric/duodenal ulcer)
New onset symptoms in patients > 55yo
Patients taking OTC heartburn remedies regularly/ greater than 4 weeks symptomatic treatment
Patient with hepatic impairment/ jaundice
Antacids normally contain which TWO types of compounds?
Aluminium or magnesium based compounds
Magnesium compounds have been found to be constipating or inducing a laxative type effect?
Laxative effect
Aluminium based antacid compounds have been found to be constipating or laxative type inducing?
Constipating
How do aluminium/ magnesium based antacids exert their therapeutic effect?
Both are relatively insoluble in water. Bind with H+ in HCl and thus lowers gastric pH and reduce acid delivery to duodenum.
Which drugs are antacids known to interact with?
tetracyclines, vitamins, ciprofloxacin, ketoconazole, levothyroxine, hydroxychloroquine, chloroquine, chlorpromazine, rifampicin, cefdinir, cefpodoxime, rosuvastatin.
Although none of these reactions are generally ‘black-dot/ severe’
Patients should be counselled to take medicines at least 2 to 3 hours apart
Why is aluminium based antacids not recommended in renal impairment?
Due to aluminium based compounds being insoluble in water and mainly excreted in urine, accumulation may occur in the kidneys in patients with renal impairment.
Possibility of aluminium toxicity.
How do alginates exert their therapeutic effect?
Form a raft which sits on the surface of the stomach contents and prevents reflux.
Some alginate based products contains bicarbonate causes the release of carbon dioxide in the stomach which allows the raft to float more easily on top of the stomach contents.
How does ranitidine/famotidine exert their therapeutic effect to reduce the symptoms of heartburn/indigestion?
Both are H2 receptor antagonists. Prevents the release of histamine which consequently reduces the effect of H+/K+ ATPase pump - reducing gastric acid secretion
How long is the maximum supply for OTC H2 receptor antagonists like ranitidine?
Max. 14 days supply
How do proton pump inhibitors exert their therapeutic effect?
PPIs directly inhibit gastric acid secretion by specifically inhibiting H+/K+ ATPase acid pump in the parietal cell.