Several Common Gastrointestinal Symptoms and their Effective and Safe Treatment

Summary

The pharmacist is an important specialist in the selection of the drug when the patient comes forpharmacist’s advice of how to alleviate common gastrointestinal symptoms. Of all drugs which canbe effective in these situations, only three drugs (bismuth subsalicylate, psyllium, and docusatesodium) proved to be advantageous for selfmedication. Bismuth subsalicylate (BSS) is muchappreciated in the treatment of peptic ulcers where it not only covers the base of the ulcer but alsoeradicates Helicobacter pylori. Therefore this drug does not treat only the symptoms but the causeof the disease as well. Dyspepsia may also be effectively treated with BSS because of its strong andrapid protective effect on the gastric mucosa. Last but not least, the salicylate component of thissubstance and not bismuth alone is responsible for the elimination of diarrhoea in the so-calledtraveller’s diarrhoea, as the salicylate decreases enhanced secretion of fluid in the colon. On theother hand, the natural fibre psyllium may effectively alleviate constipation, because it increasesthe volume and weight of stools as well as the transit time in the colon and facilitates defecation.Similarly, docusate sodium is a detergent agent which facilitates the entrance of water into the stool,which is then better and more easily pushed out from the large intestine.

Key words:
gastrointestinal symptoms – bismuth subsalicylate – psyllium – docusate sodium