2. OVERVIEW OF THE TOPIC
Various drugs posses a broad therapeutic
actions on the Gastrointestinal Tract.
Their effects range from slowing the gastric
motility while others inhibit the production of
gastric secretion
Knowledge on the therapeutic actions of such
drugs will ensure a good treatment outcomes
3. GENERAL OBJECTIVE
At the end of the session, student nurses
should be able to broaden their knowledge on
various drugs acting on the Gastrointestinal
tract.
4. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
At the end of the session, student
nurses/midwives should be able to;
Describe the mode of actions of various drugs
acting on the Gastrointestinal tract
o Antiacids
o Emetics
o Anti-emetics
5. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
o Anticholinergic agents
o Laxatives and Purgatives
o Anti-diarrheals
o Suppositories
o Rectal infusions
o Antihelminthics
o Drugs used in the treatment of Schistosomiasis
7. Antacids
These are drugs which work by Neutralizing gastric
acid to relieve pain caused by hyperacidity in cases of
peptic ulcer, gastritis and esophagitis.
Absorbable antacids such as sodium bicarbonate raise
the alkalinity of the blood when taken frequently and
may cause renal damage with an excessive milk intake.
Non-absorbable antacids are preferable.
These include aluminium and magnesium hydroxide
and magnesium trisilicate.
8.
9. Therapeutic action of Antiacids
Antiacids work by neutralising gastric acid to
relieve pain caused by hyperacidity in cases of
peptic ulcer, gastritis and oesophagitis and by
increasing the gastric pH, they diminish the
activity of pepsin in the gastric secretion
thereby inhibiting further erosion of the
mucosa membrane on the ulcer.
10. PROPERTIES OF ANTIACIDS
They are neutral in aqueous solution.
They act rapidly, effective and maintain their
effectiveness and their effects for several
hours.
They disturb the acid-base balance of the
blood and cause alkalosis or make the urine
alkaline
11. PROPERTIES OF ANTIACIDS
With prolonged use, Antiacids may cause renal
calculi (renal stone) in the urinary tract.
They are non-irritant to the Gastrointestinal
tract and does not cause diarrhoea and
constipation.
12. ANTIACIDS
ALUMINIUM HYDROXIDE
Presentation: Tablet chewable of 500mg
Indication: Hyperacidity, gastritis and peptic
ulcers
Dose: Chew 1-2 tablets half an hour before
and after meals and repeated as required.
Side effects: Renal dysfunction
13. ANTIACIDS
MAGNESIUM HYDROXIDE
Presentation: Tablet containing
Indication: Hyperacidity, peptic ulcer and
constipation in infants
Dose: Chew 1-2 tablets half an hour before
and after meals and repeated as required
15. ANTIACIDS
MAGNESIUM TRISILICATE (MMT)
Presentation: Compound tablets and mixture;
MMT 250mg, aluminium hydroxide 120mg.
Action: Reduces total acid load in the
stomach, reduces pepsin activity and Strengths
gastric mucosa barrier
16. ANTIACIDS
Indications: Hyperacidity, gastritis and peptic
ulcer
Dose:1-2 tablets chewable as required
Side effects: Diarrhoea and renal impairment
Nursing implications
Monitor for renal impairment, like reduction of
urine output
18. H2-Receptor Antagonists
They inhibit histamine H2 receptors of the
gastric parietal cells, resulting in reduced
gastric acid secretion (reduce acid secretion
by about 60%) and hydrogen ion
concentrations leading to increased pH.
24. Proton Pump Inhibitors
Proton pump is the final pathway for acid
secretion in the gastric parietal cells,
inhibition of the pump can completely
block acid secretion hence relieving
symptoms of active gastric and duodenal
ulcers.
26. PROTON PUMP INHIBITORS
Indications: Gastric and duodenal ulcers
Dose: Oral 20mg for both gastric and duodenal
ulcers 24 hourly for 4 weeks in duodenal and 8
weeks in gastric ulcerations.
Side effects: Diarrhoea, headache,
hypersensitivity, pruritus and dizziness
Caution: liver disease, pregnancy and
breastfeeding
27. PROTON PUMP INHIBITORS
ESOMEPRAZOLE
Presentation: Tablet containing 20mg, 40mg
Indications: Gastric and duodenal ulceration
associated with helicobacter pylori and gastro-
oesophageal reflux disease.
Dose: duodenal ulcers associated with
helicobacter pylori 20mg 12 hourly for 4 weeks
28. PROTON PUMP INHIBITORS
Side effects: Diarrhoea, headache,
hypersensitivity, pruritus and dizziness
Caution: liver disease, pregnancy, and
breastfeeding
Other drugs in the class include Lansoprazole,
Pantoprazole and Rabeprazole
31. EMETICS
Emetics are divided into two (2) groups;
Reflex emetics: these induce vomiting by
irritating the stomach, like a mixture of warm
salt water, mustard powder and warm milk.
Central emetics: these induce vomiting by
irritating the vomiting centre (Chemoreceptor
trigger zone) direct in the brain, like apple
morphine which has no analgesic effect.
32. EMETICS
Indications
In poisoning when gastric lavage is not
possible (except in corrosive chemicals)
Acute indigestion due to excessive
constipation of food.
Emetics are rarely used for fear of
aspirations
34. Antiemetics
These are drugs (agents) that prevent or
relieve nausea and vomiting that can result
from various factors
35. ANTIEMETICS
These are drugs (agents) are used in;
Surgery
Poisoning
Antiemetics should be prescribed only when
the cause of vomiting is known
Otherwise the symptomatic relief may delay or
mask diagnosis.
37. ANTIEMETICS
Mechanism of action
Blockade of dopamine receptors centrally on
the chemoreceptor trigger zone causing
stimulation of neurotransmitter dopamine
Indications
Nausea and vomiting associated with
Gastrointestinal disorders or treatment with
cytotoxic drugs
40. ANTIEMETICS
PHENOTHIAZINES
These drugs are used for symptomatic relief of
nausea from underlined disease, these are;
Chlopromazine (lagactil)
Prochlorperazine
Trifluoperazine
Perphenazine
41. ANTIEMETICS
Mechanism of action
They are dopamine antagonists and act
centrally by blocking the chemoreceptor
trigger zone.
They are of value for prophylaxis and
treatment of nausea and vomiting associated
with cancer diseases, motion sickness,
cytotoxic and general anaesthetics.
42. ANTIEMETICS
Nursing implication for Phenothiazine
Assess respiratory status; rate and rhythm,
increase in bronchial secretions, wheezing,
chest tightness.
46. Anticholinergic Agents
These drugs also known as Anti-spasmodic
reduce gastric secretions and motility by
blocking the action of sympathetic
nervous system and largely dependent on
the stimulation of parasympathetic nerve
which controls the motility of the
gastrointestinal tract.
49. ANTICHOLINERGIC AGENTS
Nursing implications for anticholinergics are;
Atropine should never be given to patients
with intraocular disorders.
Monitor intake of fluids and output of urine to
rule out urine retention.
Monitor ECG.
Monitor bowel sound and note for constipation
50. ANTICHOLINERGIC AGENTS
Some of the examples of Anticholinergic drugs
are;
Atropine
Buscopan (Hyosine bromide)
Probantine bromide
Methoscoplolamine bromide
51. ANTICHOLINERGIC AGENTS
Atropine
Presentation: Injection containing 0.05, 0.1,
0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.8 and 1mg/ml.
Indication: used for patient with irritable
bowel syndrome and odynophagia.
Dose: IM 0.4 – 0.6mg, 6 hourly in adults,
0.01mg/kg in children, 4 – 6 times/day.
52. ANTICHOLINERGIC AGENTS
Side effect: Headache, hypotension,
constipation, anorexia, vomiting, diarrhoea,
low urine output, dry mucous membranes.
Caution: Renal disease and hyperthyroidism.
Contraindications: Hypersensitivity to the
drug, gastrointestinal obstruction and asthma.
54. ANTICHOLINERGIC AGENTS
Caution: In elderly, urinary retention,
cardiovascular disease, gastrointestinal
obstruction and renal impairment
Contraindications: Glaucoma, renal diseases
and hypersensitivity to the drug
56. Laxatives and Purgatives
They act by retaining water in the colon
thus increasing stool bulk and stimulating
bowel movements to produce soft stool and
are used to treat constipation.
57. LAXATIVES AND PURGATIVES
Drugs in this group are classified into three (3)
classes;
1. Bulky forming laxatives
2. Stimulant laxatives
3. Saline Purgatives
59. LAXATIVES AND PURGATIVES
Nursing implications
Advise the patient to take with plenty of water
to prevent dehydration due to osmotic
diarrhoea
Look for signs for severe diarrhoea and
dehydration
Avoid overdose
60. LAXATIVES AND PURGATIVES
Bulky forming laxatives
These drugs loosen the bowels (stool) thereby
promoting evacuation.
They act by retaining water in the colon and
stimulates bowel movements to produce soft
stool.
They should be taken with plenty of fluids.
They take about 6-12 hours to act.
62. LAXATIVES AND PURGATIVES
Stimulant laxatives
These act by stimulating the nerve endings of
the nerve plexus in the gut wall, causing
irritation and increased peristalsis in small and
large bowels.
These drugs include;
Senna glycosides
Bisacodyl (Dulcolax)
63. LAXATIVES AND PURGATIVES
Saline Purgatives
These lubricate the gastrointestinal tract by
retaining fluids within bowels lumen resulting
in soft stool and stimulating peristalsis.
Example of saline purgativesis Magnesium
sulphate (Epsom salt)
65. Anti-diarrheals
Anti-Diarrheals reduce the effects of
acetylcholine on gut receptors on the
circular and longitudinal muscles of the
intestinal wall and this reduces peristaltic
activity thereby shortening the frequency
and duration of diarrhea.
66. ANTI-DIARRHEALS
Diarrhoea is an increase in the frequency and
volume of stool with an alteration in its
consistency.
Diarrhoea can either be acute or chronic.
Acute is sudden onset, short lived, self-
limiting and mostly caused by indigestion or
infection.
67. ANTI-DIARRHEALS
Chronic diarrhoea refers to diarrhoea that
persists for more than two weeks and stool
must be taken for investigations.
Though diarrhoea can be management by fluid
infusion, some drugs can be used to reduce the
frequency and episodes.
68. ANTI-DIARRHEALS
LOPERAMIDE (IMODIUM)
Presentation: 2mg capsule
Mechanism of action: reduces the effects of
acetylcholine on gut receptors on the circular
and longitudinal muscles of the intestinal wall
and this reduces peristaltic activity.
69. ANTI-DIARRHEALS
SUPPOSITORIES
They are solid preparations which are usually
administered for single dose
The shape, volume and consistence of
suppositories are such that the preparation is
suitable for rectal administration.
The medicament is dispensed in a suitable base
which may melt at suitable body temperature
72. Anti-helminthics
These are drugs used in treating worms
(worm infestation) by preventing the
worms from uptake of nutrients and are
active against the adults worms, larvae and
eggs.
73. ANTI-HELMINTHICS
Mebendazole (Vermox)
Dose: Oral dosage is 100 mg 12 hourly for 3
days or 500mg as a start dose.
contraindications: Not to be given to children
below 1 year and in first trimester of
pregnancy
75. ANTI-HELMINTHICS
Piperazine
Dose: 75 mg/kg as a single oral dose.
Pyrantel Pamoate (Combatrin)
Dose: 11 mg/kg not to exceed 1 g as a single
dose.
Contraindication: Not to be given with
Piperazine and in pregnancy.
77. ANTI-HELMINTHICS
These are drugs used in the treatment of
schistosomiasis commonly known as bilharzia.
Schistocides increases cell membrane
permeability and paralysis of worm
musculature leading to detachment of suckers
from the blood vessel walls
79. ANTI-HELMINTHICS
Niridazole
Indication: S. mansoni and S. haematobium
Dose: 25mg/kg orally 24 hourly for 7 days
Side effects: convulsions, psychosis, lassitude,
nausea, vomiting
Nursing implications: Rest and avoiding
heavy work, operating machines
82. ANTI-HELMINTHICS
Metrifonate
Indication: for treatment of S. haematobium
Dose: 7.5mg/kg body weight once every 2-3
weeks, total of 3 doses.
Side effects: Drowsiness, naesea and vomiting
Nursing implications: Advise rest and avoid
heavy duty works, operating machines