Category: 06. Drugs Used In Gastrointestinal Diseases

Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory condition of the rectum and colon; crohni’s disease can involve the whole intestine. Both diseases can lead to pain and abdominal discomfort. Two groups of drugs used to treat both conditions are corticosteroids e.g. prednisolone drugs related to sulphonamides e.g. sulfasalazine.

Haemorrhoids are varicose veins of the anal canal which can be very distressing for the sufferer. There is no pharmacological cure for this disorder, which is often self-limiting, if not, may require surgical intervention. The use of drugs may however, linder the sufferings: Stool softeners may alleviate constipation; lessen straining which can worsen the condition.…

In case of poisoning with noncorrosive agents, and assuming incomplete absorption of the poison has taken place, induction of vomiting can be carried out The drug used for this purpose is emetine, the active ingredient of ipecacuanha (syrup of ipecac). Emetine induces by direct irritation of the upper gut and on absorption, it also acts…

Are drugs used to prevent or treat nausea and vomiting. Nausea is an unpleasant sensation of abdominal discomfort accompanied by a desire to vomit. Vomiting is the expulsion of stomach contents through the mouth Nausea may occur without vomiting and vomiting may occur without prior nausea, but the two symptoms most often occur together. Vomiting…

Are used in the treatment of diarrhea, defined as the frequent expulsion of liquid or semi liquid stools → hinders absorption of fluids and electrolytes. In many instances, drug intervention is not required because is a protective mechanism used in an attempt by the body to flush out the offending pathogen or agent. Antidiarrheal drugs…

Laxatives and cathartics are drugs used orally to evacuate the bowels or to promote bowel elimination (defecation). The term laxative implies mild effects, and eliminative of soft formed stool. The term cathartic implies strong effects and elimination of liquid or semi liquid stool. Both terms are used interchangeably because it is the dose that determines…

Locally active agents help to heal gastric and duodenal ulcers by forming a protective barrier between the ulcers and gastric acid, pepsin, and bile salts. They do not alter the secretion of gastric acid. These drugs include sucralfate and colloid bismuth compounds. (e.g. tripotassium, dicitratobismuthate) Colloidal bismuth compounds additionally exert bactericidal action against H.pylori. Other…

HCl is secreted by parietal cells of the gastric mucosa which contain receptors for acetylcholine, histamine and gastrin that stimulate the secretion. Antisecretory drugs include: H2-receptors blocking agents such as cimetidine, ranitidine, famotidine, nizatidine. Cimetidine is the proto type of the group. Cimetidine dosage: PO 400mg 2 times/day, with meals and at bed time, or…

Antacids are alkaline substances (weak bases) that neutralize gastric acid (hydrochloric acid) They react with hydrochloric acid in the stomach to produce neutral or less acidic or poorly absorbed salts and raise the PH of stomach secretion, and above PH of 4, pepsin is inactive. Antacids are divided into systemic and nonsystemic Systemic, e.g. sodium…

Acid-peptic disease includes peptic ulcer (gastric and duodenal), gastroesophageal reflux and Zollinger – Ellison syndrome. Peptic – ulcer disease is thought to result from an imbalance between cell – destructive effects of hydrochloric acid and pepsin and cell-protective effects of mucus and bicarbonate on the other side. Pepsin is a proteolyic enzyme activated in gastric…