use of medicines - GI Flashcards
DRUG CAUSES OF CONSTIPATION
- opiates
- calcium channel blockers (verapamil)
- anticholinergic drugs (benzhexol, tricyclic antidepressants)
- iron
- lithium
dense dietary sources of fibre
figs - 4 per day is sufficient
all bran
wholemeal and wholegrain
comparison of laxative timecourse
bulk forming - 1-3days
stimulant laxatives - 6-8hrs (semi solids)
osmotic laxatives - 1-3 hours (watery evacuation) - so torrential that sometimes can kill. hypokalaemia perhaps.
FLUIID REPLACEMENT IN INFECTIOUS DIARRHOEA
- Rehydrate with oral rehydration therapy (isosomotic electrolyte solutions e.g. dioralyte)
- Composition of oral rehydration solutions
Na 60 mmol, K+ 20 mmol, Cl- 60 mmol glucose 90 mmol (glucose helps absorb electrolytes) - If very volume deplete use IV fluids that will replace sodium and potassium
initially 0.9% sodium chloride solution; normal saline (150mM (millimolar) NaCL)
added potassium, guided by serum electrolytes to replace water losses use 5% dextrose solution (can’t give plain water as the osmotic pressure will cause haemolysis)
how does loperamide act
an opioid that is pretty gut selective. causes the constipation (anti diarrhoea) but doesn’t have the effects of pain relief, euphoria, or nausea.
important negatives if you want to make a diagnosis of IBS
weight loss PR blood loss abdo masses anaemia raised inflammatory markers
its important to check these are negative as they would indicate something more insidious.
just for reference - positive symptoms for IBS
A. Abdominal pain
B. Bloating
C. Change in bowel habit
use of aminosalicylates
These drugs act on the distal small bowel and large bowel
Salicylate is delivered to these parts of the bowel where it has a topical anti-inflammatory action by inhibiting prostaglandin production
all the -salazines. SULPHASALAZINE, MESALAZINE, OLSALALAZINE
2 steroid sparing immunosuppressants
methotrexate - is an antimetabolite and antifolate drug.
azathioprine - Consequently, blocking the synthesis of purine also hinders DNA synthesis and thus inhibits the proliferation of cells, especially fast-growing cells without a method of nucleotide salvage (“recycling”), such as lymphocytes.
upper limit of normal for bilirubin
around 20. over 60mmol/l and in caucasians you’ll see the jaundice.
Hx: Qs to ask the Jaundiced patient
- Duration
- Previous attacks
- Pain (gallstones)
- Chills, fever, systemic symptoms (cholangitis)
- Itching
- Exposure to drugs (prescribed, ‘natural’, recreational)
- Biliary surgery
- Anorexia, weight loss
- Colour of urine and stool
- History of injections or blood transfusions
- Contact with other jaundiced patients
- Occupation (alcohol, animal contact, industrial exposure)
- Travel (malaria, recent travel to endemic areas)
- Sexual contacts and prior hepatitis immunisation
what is Gilberts Syndrome
Gilbert’s syndrome (/ʒiːlˈbɛər/ zheel-bair), often shortened to GS, also called Gilbert–Meulengracht syndrome, is a genetic liver disorder and the most common hereditary cause of increased bilirubin and is found in up to 5% of the population (though some gastroenterologists maintain that it is closer to 10% in Caucasian people).
Gilbert’s syndrome is a phenotypic effect, characterized by mild jaundice due to increased unconjugated bilirubin, that arises from several different genotypic variants of the gene for the enzyme responsible for changing bilirubin to the conjugated form.
Gilbert’s syndrome is characterized by a 70–80% reduction in the glucuronidation activity of the enzyme, (UGT1A1). The UGT1A1 gene is located on human chromosome 2
causes of jaundice
check OHCM
Investigation of Hepatic Jaundice
Blood tests (liver screen) • HBsAg • Anti–HCV • Ferritin • Caeruloplasmin - wilson's, almost never presents over the age of 40. • α-1-antitrypsin • Autoantibodies / Immunoglobluins
what happens in acute liver failure
• Development of encephalopathy & coagulopathy within 12 weeks of the onset of jaundice in absence of pre-existing liver disease
• Common (55%)
– Paracetamol 40%
– Acute viral hepatitis 13% (A, B & E)
– Idiosyncratic drug reactions 12% (isoniazid, phenytoin, sulphonamides, PTU)
• Rare (30%) – Autoimmune hepatitis – Herbal supplements – Mushroom poisoning – Budd-Chiari syndrome – Pregnancy-related liver failure – Heat stroke or rhabdomyolysis – Herpes hepatitis – Ischaemic hepatitis – Malignant infiltration – Fulminant Wilson’s disease
• ?cause (15%)
• Only effective treatment for ALF is Transplantation
– Assess & manage appropriately – Referral
– Safe transfer
what is Non-Ulcer dyspepsia
Dyspepsia is common and most of the time NO cause is found
Can be related to:
• Reflux
• Dysmotility
and treatment is symptomatic
• (may need to perform ph & manometry studies to exclude achalasia)
