Pharmacotherapy for Gastrointestinal and Hepatobiliary Disorders
The diagnosis of gastrointestinal disorders involves a comprehensive history and physical assessment. To determine a primary diagnostic founded on the presenting symptoms, I will provide a diagnosis of acute gastroenteritis. This is a disease triggered by inflammation and infection of the digestion system. It has numerous causes, including bacterial or viral infections, allergies from foods, reactions from medicines, food or water poisoning, and drug or alcohol abuse. The patient HL is presenting with symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. The patient also has a history of drugs such as Nifedipine 30mg every day, which is a treatment for hypertension of any other angina form. HL has also been taking Prednisone 10mg every day as a suppressant of immunity and Synthroid 100mg every day to treat hypothyroidism. Lastly, HL has been abusing drugs and also a probability of hepatitis C.( Drugs.com,2015).
Primarily, there are no particular treatments for acute gastroenteritis. Initially, the treatment consisted of self-care strategies such as medication for anti-diarrhea and anti-nausea. For HL, I would continue with the Prednisone without tapering, although it has a history of causing gastrointestinal upset. This is because it is the same as cortisol, a hormone that the adrenal glands make naturally. Reducing Prednisone dosage gradually provides the adrenal glands sufficient time to get back to normal functioning (Zahr et al., 2013).
I would concentrate my care for HL on treating the symptoms. I would give Ondansetron SL to aid in relieving nausea and vomiting. It also reduces the need for being rehydrated intravenously and admission to hospitals. Ondansetron SL is an antagonist 5-HT3 receptor that is selective. Even though its action mechanism is not fully characterized, Ondansetron is not in the class of dopamine-receptor antagonist (Belleza, 2021). I would give Metoclopramide which reduces vomiting episodes and hospital admission. Lastly, dimenhydrinate could also be used in reducing vomiting duration.
References
Belleza, M. (2021). Gastroenteritis Nursing Care Management. Nurseslabs. https://nurseslabs.com/gastroenteritis/.
Drugs.com (2017). Drugs by Condition. Retrieved from http://www.drugs.com/
Zahr, Z. A., Fang, H., Magder, L. S., & Petri, M. (2013). Predictors of corticosteroid tapering in SLE patients: the Hopkins Lupus Cohort. Lupus, 22(7), 697-701
