Pharmacology Antidiarrheal Drugs Quiz

Questions and Answers

What are Antidiarrheal Drugs?

Used to treat diarrhea, classified into two groups: nonspecific antidiarrheal agents and specific antidiarrheal agents.

What are the two major groups of Antidiarrheal Drugs?

Nonspecific antidiarrheal agents and specific antidiarrheal agents.

What is Atropine used for?

It is used for bradycardia but also slows gastrointestinal motility to help treat diarrhea.

What is Diphenoxylate (Lomotil) and what is it combined with?

Diphenoxylate is an opioid antidiarrheal agent combined with Atropine to decrease potential for abuse. Signup and view all the answers

What are the side effects of Diphenoxylate (Lomotil)?

In antidiarrheal doses, no significant CNS effects; high doses can cause sedation, drowsiness, and anticholinergic effects. Signup and view all the answers

What is Loperamide (Imodium)?

Loperamide is an opioid antidiarrheal agent that is not a controlled substance. Signup and view all the answers

What are the nursing considerations for Antidiarrheal Agents?

Do not take prior to driving, change position gradually, hydrate, and report urinary retention. Signup and view all the answers

What are Antidiarrheal Drugs: Anticholinergics?

These drugs slow GI motility and are used to decrease abdominal cramping and pain. Signup and view all the answers

What is IBS and what drugs treat diarrhea and constipation associated with it?

IBS is a condition of chronic intestinal discomfort. Alestron treats diarrhea and lubiprostone treats constipation. Signup and view all the answers

What is Alosetron (Lotronex)?

Alosetron is approved for women with IBS-D who have not responded to other treatments. Signup and view all the answers

What is Sulfasalazine (Meridia) used for?

It is indicated for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Antidiarrheal Drugs Overview

Antidiarrheal drugs are medications used to alleviate diarrhea symptoms.
Two primary categories:
- Nonspecific antidiarrheal agents: Includes opioids and anticholinergic antispasmodics.
- Specific antidiarrheal agents: Target underlying causes, such as anti-infective medications for infections like C. difficile.

Atropine

Atropine treats bradycardia and also reduces gastrointestinal (GI) motility to help manage diarrhea.

Diphenoxylate (Lomotil)

Opioid antidiarrheal that activates opioid receptors in the GI tract, reducing motility and increasing absorption time for fluids/electrolytes.
Contains atropine to mitigate potential abuse and categorized as a Schedule V controlled substance.
Side effects include sedation and anticholinergic effects (dry mouth, urinary retention); should not be administered to children under 2 years.
Available in tablets and oral liquid formulations.

Loperamide (Imodium)

Similar to opioids, no controlled substance classification.
Structural analog of meperidine; maximum dosing should not exceed 16mg/day.
Should not be used for more than 48 hours to prevent CNS toxicity.

Nursing Considerations for Antidiarrheal Agents

Avoid operating vehicles or machinery post-administration due to potential hypotension effects.
Advise gradual position changes to prevent dizziness.
Encourage hydration and management of dry mouth with hard candy or gum.
Recommend urination every 4 hours, with attention to urinary retention.

Anticholinergic Antidiarrheal Drugs

Mainly employed to reduce GI tract motility; atropine is a key drug.
High doses should be avoided to prevent bradycardia; intended for acute diarrhea management.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Characterized by chronic discomfort involving cramps and alternating diarrhea/constipation.
IBS-D is treated with alosetron; IBS-C with lubiprostone.
Frequency of IBS consultations is high, often due to unclear treatment pathways.

Alosetron (Lotronex)

Specifically approved for use in women with severe IBS-D lasting over 6 months and previously unresponsive to other treatments.
High-risk medication associated with severe side effects like constipation and potential complications (e.g., ischemic colitis).
Requires patient-physician agreement due to toxicity risks and advises reporting severe abdominal pain or rectal bleeding.

Sulfasalazine (Meridia)

Indicated for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
Acts as an antibiotic, decreasing inflammation through inhibiting prostaglandin synthesis.
Administered orally with food to minimize GI upset; may cause orange-yellow urine.
Nursing considerations include contraindications for patients with salicylate/sulfonamide allergies and potential adverse effects like bone marrow suppression.

Description

Test your knowledge on antidiarrheal drugs with this quiz that covers both nonspecific and specific agents. Learn about their definitions and uses, including the role of Atropine. Perfect for students in pharmacology courses.