DRUG THERAPY FOR

COMMON
GASTROINTESTINAL
TRACT

BY: MANAR SAEED

Academic number: 442801978

U n d e r s u p e r v i s i o n : D r . G h a d a n a z e e r
 contacts:

Introduction
The most common gastrointestinal
How should gastrointestinal drugs be
taken?
Contraindications and warnings
associated with the use of
gastrointestinal drugs
Sources
 introduction

The drugs for the gastrointestinal

system are designed for care and
treatment of the digestive system
organs (including the liver, biliary tract
and pancreas) and diseases that may
affect those organs. Among the latter
are included constipation and
diarrhea, Crohn's disease and irritable
bowel syndrome, gastroesophageal
reflux disease, ulcers, stomach cancer,
gallbladder disease, liver disease and
hemorrhoids.
 The most common
gastrointestinal medications
include:
 The 5-aminosalicylates:

they are used to treat inflammatory diseases

of the intestines, such as ulcerative colitis,
proctitis, and Crohn's disease. They act by
exerting an anti-inflammatory action; among
the main operating mechanisms it also
performs the inhibition of prostaglandin
production and the reduction of the
production of antibodies by plasma cells,
elements of the immune system.
The bile agents solubilizing the cholesterol:

used in the presence of non-calcified small

calculations that do not necessarily require
surgical removal, and they work by reducing
the synthesis of cholesterol by the liver or its
absorption in the gut.
 The Helicobacter pylori eradicative agents:

they are used in combination with

antibacterial agents to treat H. pylori infection
and work by reducing the acidity in the
stomach. This can be antacids or proton
pump inhibitors, molecule involved in the
production of gastric juices.
 The antacids:

they are used in case of failure

associated with poor digestion and to
relieve the symptoms of peptic ulcers.
They act by neutralizing the acidic juices,
thus increasing the pH of the stomach
and sometimes are matched to the use of
alginates, substances that float above
the material present in the stomach and
form a barrier that prevents the acid from
reaching the esophagus and irritate or
even damage it
 The over-the-counter products:

their common goal is to stop diarrhea, but

to do so they can act very differently. In
some cases, they are in the form of
antibacterials that act on the removal of a
microbe, but often the problem is not
associated with an infection; instead, in
many other circumstances an active
ingredient is necessary to block the
intestinal motility or an antispasmodic
agent
 The digestive enzymes:

they are used in the case of difficulty of

absorption of food caused by enzyme
deficiencies. They act by participating in
the digestion of food?
 Drugs against the functional disorders of
intestines:

they are used to relieve the symptoms of

irritable bowel syndrome, chronic bloating,
diarrhea and constipation. Their mechanisms
of action are very variable depending on the
active principle considered: some, for
example, are antispasmodic drugs, while
others act on the gut channels, finally
favoring the transit of stool.
How should gastrointestinal
drugs be taken?
 Many gastrointestinal medications
require a prescription, but many
others can be purchased without one.
They come in the form of tablets,
solutions, gels, enemas: what matters
is always to follow the instructions on
the package leaflet or follow the
doctor's directions in terms of dose
and mode of application.
 Contraindications and
warnings associated with the
use of gastrointestinal drugs
 The assumption of gastrointestinal drugs may be
associated with variable adverse effects depending on
the active principle taken into account. Some side
effects concern the digestive system (such as diarrhea,
nausea and vomiting), while others act at the
neurological level (such as headaches or dizziness). In
other cases, like that of laxatives, excessive use may
lead to habituation. Therefore, it is always
recommended to follow the doctor's instructions or the
instructions on the package insert of the drug.

Moreover, in some cases their intake is contraindicated.

This is the case, for example, for the proton pump
inhibitor lansoprazole, which should not be taken in
case of stomach cancer, fructose intolerance or glucose
or galactose malabsorption. Thus, it is always advisable
to seek advice from your doctor before taking a
medication to treat a gastrointestinal problem. The
recommendation is especially important when you are
living with health problems, if you are already taking
other medications or if you are pregnant or
breastfeeding.
 Sources:

https://www.humanitas.net/wiki/active-
ingredients/gastrointestinal-drugs/