Appreciating gastrointestinal side effects of prescribed medications

+Practice

In print

GASTROENTEROLOGY

Appreciating gastrointestinal side effects of prescribed medications

13 April 2022

Alan Fraser

Wednesday 13 April 2022, 12:20 AM

Widespread use of NSAIDs has led to increased incidence of NSAID-related ulceration [Image: Supplied]

Prescribers need to be continually mindful of the potential harms from medication. Here, gastroenterologist Alan Fraser outlines the various gastrointestinal side effects of prescribed medications

This article has been endorsed by the RNZCGP and has been approved for up to 0.25 CME credits for continuing professional development purposes (1 cred, Educate small, BACK panel - grey

Gastroenterology

Medicines and Therapies

References

1. Tomlin A, Woods DJ, Lambie A, et al. Ethnic inequality in non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drug‐associated harm in New Zealand: A national population‐based cohort study. Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf 2020;29:881–89.

2. Jahromi SR, Togha M, Fesharaki SH, et al. Gastrointestinal adverse effects of antiepileptic drugs in intractable epileptic patients. Seizure 2011;20(4):343–46.

How to Treat

+How to treat

Polypharmacy

For older people and frail people, the long-term benefit of medicines reduces and the potential for harm from adverse effects increases. When the benefit–risk balance changes in this way, medicine review and optimisation are important to simplify the therapeutic regimen, reduce inappropriate medicines and minimise risks. In this article, pharmacist prescriber Linda Bryant uses two case studies to illustrate important considerations during medicine reviews

Wednesday 28 May 2025, 12:50 AM