Insights into Medications for Respiratory and Gastrointestinal Disorders- A Video Review

Insights into Medications for Respiratory and Gastrointestinal Disorders- A Video Review

Medication used to treat respiratory disorders

According to the video uploaded by Simple Nursing (2012), respiratory diseases are illnesses that affect the lungs, bronchi, nasal passages, and several other air passages. These diseases range from chronic illnesses, such as COPD and asthma, to acute conditions, like bronchitis and pneumonia. Depending on the type of respiratory infection, different pharmacological agents (drugs) can be used to boost the breathing system, unclog the airways, and improve gaseous exchange. For example, several drugs have been employed to treat bronchitis, a disease commonly caused by H. influenza and S. pneumonia and characterized by persistent cough but without pneumonia. Some of the medications recommended by Simple Nursing (2012) for the treatment of bronchitis are bronchodilators, expectorants and cough suppressants (such as guaifenesin and acetylcysteine), antihistamines (such as brompheniramine), NSAIDs (such as aspirin and ibuprofen), and sometimes corticosteroids.

Asthma is another common respiratory disease that can be treated by pharmacologic elements. Asthma, a disease caused by irritants, allergens, and respiratory infections, is characterized by wheezing, shortness of breath, chest pains, and coughing. Treatment of asthma can require inhaled corticosteroids (such as fluticasone and budesonide), leukotriene modifiers (like montelukast), and long-acting beta-agonists or LABAs (such as salmeterol).

Finally, it is important to note that a single or a combination of drugs mentioned above, plus other antibacterial medications, can also be used to treat other respiratory infections (Simple Nursing, 2012). A good example is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which is typified by cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, chest pressure, and wheezing. Some of the common medications for treating COPD include bronchodilators, inhaled steroids, a combination of inhalers, oral steroids, phosphodiesterase-4-inhibitors (such as roflumilast), theophylline, and antibiotics (such as azithromycin).

Medication used to treat gastrointestinal disorders

Gastrointestinal disorders are infections that affect the entire GIT and include conditions such as colitis, colon cancer and polyps, perianal abscesses, haemorrhoids, irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, fistulas, and many others (Simple Nursing, 2013). Even though chemotherapy is an option, a majority of these diseases are managed practicing good bowel practices, keeping a healthy lifestyle, as well as turning up for cancer screening on a regular basis.

One of the common GIT disorders managed by medications is constipation, which is characterized by difficulty in the passing of stool (or moving bowel). The three common prescriptions for constipation are lubiprostone, linaclotide, and lactulose, which cause epithelial cells lining the intestines to produce water, sodium, and chloride to moisten and soften the stool (Simple Nursing, 2013). Ulcerative colitis, a condition marked by inflammation of the internal epithelial lining of the colon, is another common GIT disorder treated by pharmacologic elements. Some of the popular medications for ulcerative colitis are corticosteroids, 5-aminosalicylic acid (such as sulfasalazine), immunomodulatory drugs (like cyclosporine, azathioprine, and tofacitinib), and biologics (such as vedolizumab and infliximab).

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is also one of the few GIT disorders with a string of chemotherapeutic options. The symptoms of IBS range from abdominal pain, cramping, diarrhoea, and bloating to constipation. Besides constipation drugs, IBS can be treated using alosetron (slow the motion of waste material and relax the colon), eluzadoline (lower diarrhoea by easing muscle contractions), rifaximin (an antibiotic), as well as lubiprostone and linaclotide (increase fluid secretions)

References

Simple Nursing. (2012, Oct 9). Respiratory pharmacology. Part 2 [Video File]. YouTube. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=seoL9zeT8uw

Simple Nursing. (2013, Feb 24). GI pharmacology: antacids & H2 blockers [Video]. YouTube. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=

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Based on the required video, what did you learn about medication used to treat respiratory disorders?

Insights into Medications for Respiratory and Gastrointestinal Disorders- A Video Review

Based on the required video, what did you learn about medication used to treat gastrointestinal disorders?