What common GI symptoms could be drug-related?
Virtually all. Most drugs can cause nausea and vomiting. Constipation, diarrhoea, dyspepsia, GI ulceration, abdominal pain, dry mouth, taste disturbances and mouth ulcers may all be related to medicines. What should you do? This article explains when you might offer symptomatic treatment and when you should refer and/or suggest changing the drug. Symptoms affecting the gastrointestinal (GI) tract commonly present to community pharmacists. They are also common adverse reactions to medicines. Between 13 and 20 per cent of all ADRs involve the GI tract, so it is important not to overlook this possibility when asked for advice. Nausea and vomiting Most drugs can cause nausea or vomiting, usually by central action on the chemoreceptor trigger zone or the vomiting centre, or locally on the GI tract by causing irritation or altering gastric motility. Often nausea reduces with continued use, but is nonetheless important because patients may stop taking medicines or lose doses through vomiting.
