LAXATIVES DRUGS

WAZIR ALI CHANDIO

o OBJECTIVES
 DEFINITION
 INTRODUCTION
 INDICATION
 LAXATIVE CLASSIFICATION
 ADVERSE/SIDE EFFECT
 NURSING IMPLICATION
 3 DRUGS OF LAXITIVE FLASH CARD
 REFERENCES
 o DEFINITION

Drugs that help evacuation of formed

fecal material from the rectum.
o INTRODUCTION
The English word "laxative" comes from Old
French laxative, which came from the Latin
laxatus. The Latin word Laxare means "to
loosen", while the Latin word Laxus means
"loose, lax". Reference books indicate that the
noun meaning "a laxative medicine" in the
English language emerged around 1386 A.D.
o INDICATION
 Fecal impaction
 Constipation associated with illness, surgery,
pregnancy or poor diet
 Drug-induced constipation
 Conditions where bowel strain is undesirable
 Preparation for surgery or investigations involving
the GIT (e.g. sigmoidoscopy)
o CLASSIFICATION OF LAXATIVES

 Bulk-forming laxatives
 Stimulant laxatives
 Osmotic laxatives
 Emollient laxatives (fecal softeners)
 Lubricants
 o ADVERSE/SIDE EFFECT
Rectal Bleeding
Bloody Stools
Severe Cramps or Pain
Weakness Or Unusual Tiredness
Dizziness
Confusion
Skin Rash or Itching
Swallowing difficulty ( Feeling of lump in throat)
Irregular Heartbeat
Burping
Cramping
Urine Discoloration
Nausea
 o NURSING IMPLICATION
 Obtain a thorough history of presenting symptoms,
elimination patterns, and allergies.
 Assess fluid and electrolytes before initiating therapy.
 Patients should not take a laxative or cathartic if they are
experiencing nausea, vomiting, and/or abdominal pain
treatment.
 A healthy, high-fiber diet and increased fluid intake should be
encouraged as an alternative to laxative use.
 Long-term use of laxatives often results in decreased bowel
tone and may lead to dependency.
 All laxative tablets should be swallowed whole, not crushed
or chewed, especially if enteric coated
 o NURSING IMPLICATION
 Patients should take all laxative tablets with 6 to 8 ounces of
water.
 Patients should take bulk-forming laxatives as directed by the
manufacturer with at least 240 mL (8 ounces) of water.
 Patients should contact their physician if they experience
severe abdominal pain, muscle weakness, cramps, and/or
dizziness, which may indicate possible fluid or electrolyte
loss.
 Monitor for therapeutic effect
 Drugs Characteristics Indication Contraindicati Side/Adver Nursing
/ Mechanismof on se Effect Responsibilities
Action
GN: Latulose Laxatives  Treatment Patient with GI:  Assess
of chronic low galactose belching, patient for
BN: Action: constipatio diet. cramps, abdominal
Constilac, increase water n in adults distension, distension,
Constulose content and and flatulence, presence of
softens the geriatric diarrhea . bowel sounds
ROUTE: PO stool. Lowers patients. and normal
the pH of the  Autonomic patterns of
DOSAGE: colon which Dysreflexi bowel
15-60 ml/day inhibits the a.. function.
diffusion of  Assess the
ammonia color,
from the consistency
colon into the and amount
blood, thereby of stool
reducing produces.
blood  Monitor
ammonia serum
level. electrolytes
periodically.
o REFERENCES