PHARMACOTHERAPY IN GASTROENTERITIS 2
Pharmacotherapy in Gastroenteritis
A patient comes to the clinic with symptoms of diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting. The
patient has a history of drug abuse and possible Hepatitis C. The patient is currently taking
Synthroid 100 mcg daily, Nifedipine 30mg daily and Prednisone 10 mg daily.
The patient has a possible gastroenteritis infection. Basing on the medical history, the
patient is on Prednisone which is a synthetic corticosteroid which has a possibility of reducing
the immune system and thereby predisposing the patient to gastrointestinal infection (Guarino,
Guandalini, & Vecchio, 2015). Gastroenteritis is the inflammation of the digestive tract
particularly the stomach and the intestines. The infection can result from a bacterial, viral or a
parasitic infection. Patients often present with loss of appetite, bloating, nausea and vomiting and
diarrhea. Treatment of gastrointestinal infection depends on the medical history, physical
examination, blood and stool tests. In most cases, the treatment depends on the cause.
Drug Therapy
Antiemetics
According to Chow, Leung, & Hon (2014), the use of antiemetics helps in the treatment
of nausea and vomiting. The use of antiemetics is recommended since nausea and vomiting is
unpleasant and the distressing symptom increases the likelihood of dehydration and electrolyte
imbalance. Metoclopramide is a dopamine receptor antagonist approved for decreasing the
afferent impulses to the chemoreceptor trigger zone thereby reducing the gastric sphincter tone
and increasing the intestinal transit time.
Antimotility Agents (Antidiarrheal)
