Kerala State Drug Formulary.pdf

Gastrointestinal Drugs
I: Used in the treatment of certain chronic diarrhoea.
P/ A: Only combinations are available.Dispersible tablets,
capsules, sachets.
Dose : 1 Capsule per day; 1 sachet b.d.
Cost : Cap. (10) Rs. 16.14
LAXATIVES:
These drugs are employed to relieve constipation. They act in several
ways —softening the faecal matter, increasing its bulk and improving
intestinal motility. They are drugs which are widely sold over the counters
and hence greatly misused, especially by the elders. Absolute medical
indications for laxatives are only limited. These include symptomatic
discomfort due to constipation occuring as the result of recumbency, febrile
states, dehydration or any other causes where correction of the primary
cause takes time.
I : Symptomatic constipation, discomfort and anxiety due
to prolonged constipation. Clearance of the loaded
colon prior to contrast radiography, endoscopic
procedures. In hepatic failure where bacterial action
in the colon leads to excess formation of ammonia which
may be absorbed. Purgatives and laxatives are
employed to reduce bacterial growth in the colon.
C/I: Absolute : Mechanical obstruction of the GI tract, acute
surgical conditions such as perforation, haemorrhage,
volvulus, paralytic ileus, etc..
Relative C/I : ln anxious subjects who are likely to
develop habituation and misuse the laxatives.
P/C : Irritant laxatives should be avoided during pregnancy
as these may cause pelvic congestion, although abortion
following therapeutic doses of laxatives is most unlikely.
Similarly, these drugs should also be avoided in case of
typhoid fever and in very ill cardiac patients.
A/E: Laxatives used occasionally are not harmful but their
repeated administration may produce gastro intestinal
disturbances like spastic colitis, dyspepsia, anorexia
and nausea; nutritional deficiency of calories, vitamins
and minerals due to interference with their absorption;
loss of fluids and electrolytes particularly potassium
and calcium giving rise to hypokalemia and
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