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Related Concept Videos

Drugs for Treatment of Constipation-Predominant IBS01:21

Drugs for Treatment of Constipation-Predominant IBS

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Pharmacological therapies for IBS-C are designed to alleviate abdominal discomfort and enhance bowel function. In patients with IBS-C, fiber supplements may help soften stools and decrease straining, but may also lead to increased gas production and bloating. Osmotic laxatives like milk of magnesia are frequently used to soften stools and increase stool frequency in IBS-C patients. In addition, two drugs approved for use in severe IBS-C adult cases are linaclotide (Linzess) and lubiprostone...
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Drugs for Treatment of Diarrhea-Predominant IBS01:17

Drugs for Treatment of Diarrhea-Predominant IBS

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Diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) is a subtype of IBS characterized primarily by frequent, loose, or watery stools, abdominal pain, and abdominal discomfort. Therapeutic approaches to managing IBS-D include dietary changes, stress management techniques, and pharmaceutical interventions.
Two specific drugs used in the treatment are alosetron (Lotronex) and eluxadoline (Viberzi). Alosetron, a 5-HT3 antagonist, works by slowing the movement of stools in the gut, reducing bowel...
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Drugs Affecting GI Tract Motility: Serotonin Receptor Agonists01:23

Drugs Affecting GI Tract Motility: Serotonin Receptor Agonists

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Serotonin, a crucial neurotransmitter synthesized by enterochromaffin cells, plays a cardinal role in regulating gastrointestinal (GI) motility. With over 90% of the body's total serotonin in the GI tract, its influence on digestive processes is profound. Serotonin is swiftly released upon various stimuli, such as food boluses or certain drugs, triggering intrinsic sensory neurons in the myenteric plexus and extrinsic vagal and spinal sensory neurons. This leads to the activation of the...
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Drugs Affecting GI Tract Motility: Other Laxatives01:20

Drugs Affecting GI Tract Motility: Other Laxatives

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Laxatives are primarily used to alleviate constipation, a common gastrointestinal disorder characterized by infrequent bowel movements and difficulty passing stools. They work by various mechanisms to increase the volume or frequency of bowel movements. The primary modes of action of laxatives include increasing stool bulk, softening the stool, stimulating intestinal motility, and osmotically drawing water into the intestines.
Osmotic or saline laxatives, like magnesium hydroxide or milk of...
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Drugs Affecting GI Tract Motility: Bulk-Forming and Stimulant Laxatives01:22

Drugs Affecting GI Tract Motility: Bulk-Forming and Stimulant Laxatives

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Laxatives enhance bowel movements and alleviate constipation. They augment the stool's bulk, stimulate intestinal muscle contractions, draw water into the intestines, or soften the stool. There are five key types of laxatives: bulk laxatives, stimulant laxatives, osmotic laxatives, stool softeners, and lubricant laxatives.
Bulk-forming laxatives, such as psyllium, methylcellulose, and polycarbophil, absorb water in the intestine, increasing stool bulk and promoting bowel movement. This...
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Drugs Affecting GI Tract Motility: Dopamine Receptor Antagonists01:28

Drugs Affecting GI Tract Motility: Dopamine Receptor Antagonists

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Prokinetic agents are specialized medications that stimulate gastrointestinal (GI) motility, promoting food movement through the GI tract. Dopamine, an inhibitory neurotransmitter, plays a significant role in this process, reducing GI motility and indirectly controlling the speed of digestion. Dopamine receptor antagonists, such as metoclopramide and domperidone, offer a unique advantage as prokinetic agents. By blocking the dopamine receptors, these drugs increase GI motility, improving food...
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Electroacupuncture Combined with Chinese Medicine Ironing Therapy for Functional Constipation
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Prucalopride for chronic constipation.

Brian E Lacy1, Burr Loew, Michael D Crowell

  • 1Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, New Hampshire 03756, USA. brian.lacy@hitchcock.org

Drugs of Today (Barcelona, Spain : 1998)
|February 6, 2010
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Chronic constipation significantly impacts quality of life. Prucalopride, a selective serotonin 5-HT4 agonist, effectively relieved constipation symptoms in clinical trials by targeting colonic motility.

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Area of Science:

  • Gastroenterology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Chronic constipation is a prevalent disorder affecting patient quality of life and healthcare costs.
  • Constipation presents with diverse symptoms like infrequent stools, straining, and incomplete evacuation.
  • Subtypes include normal transit, colonic inertia, and pelvic floor dyssynergia, requiring specialized diagnostic tests.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the pharmacology, mechanism of action, efficacy, and safety of prucalopride.
  • To explore prucalopride's role as a selective 5-HT4 agonist in managing chronic constipation.

Main Methods:

  • Review of phase II and phase III clinical trial data for prucalopride.
  • Analysis of pharmacological properties and mechanism of action of selective 5-HT4 agonists.

Main Results:

  • Prucalopride demonstrated symptom relief in patients with chronic constipation.
  • Stimulation of serotonin 5-HT4 receptors is implicated in improving colonic motility and constipation symptoms.

Conclusions:

  • Prucalopride is an effective and safe treatment option for chronic constipation.
  • Targeting the serotonin 5-HT4 pathway offers a viable therapeutic strategy for specific constipation subtypes.