Medication Induced Constipation and Diarrhea

INTRODUCTION Constipation and diarrhea as a side effect of medications is a frequent occurrence. Constipation is the most common gastrointestinal complaint that leads to physician visits, diagnostic tests and medications for treatment (1,2). Medication induced diarrhea accounts for about 7% of all adverse drug effects and there are more than 700 drugs that have been implicated in causing diarrhea (3). Certain patient populations are more at risk for development of symptoms such as the elderly, residents of nursing homes or patients with prolonged hospitalization. There are several mechanisms that contribute to medication induced constipation and diarrhea and treatment is often directed at reversing or modifying these mechanisms. Once an offending medication is identified, the simplest treatment is to discontinue it. Unfortunately, some medications are not easily removed from a patient’s regimen without exacerbating underlying illness. In this article we will identify the most common medications associated with constipation and diarrhea as well as methods of diagnosis and treatment. GERIATRIC GASTROENTEROLOGY, SERIES #18