title: Drug-induced side effects affecting the gastrointestinal tract.
abstract: With the ever-growing armamentarium of pharmacological agents, the gastrointestinal drug-induced side effects of dyspepsia, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and constipation are increasingly seen. They are often self-limiting and without serious sequelae, but of greater concern is drug-induced mucosal ulceration that can manifest as gastrointestinal haemorrhage, stricture and perforation. These complications are mainly attributable to NSAIDs and aspirin, which can injure the mucosa anywhere along the gastrointestinal tract. These iatrogenic serious side effects can be reduced with co-prescription of a proton pump inhibitor, substitution of a COX-2 inhibitor and eradication of Helicobacter pylori when the bacterium is present. Other recognised gastrointestinal complications include small intestinal diaphragm, microscopic colitis, a range of hepatotoxic effects and pancreatitis. The introduction of new classes of drugs has resulted in new adverse effects that require consideration in patients presenting with gastroenterological symptoms. These include pill oesophagitis from bisphosphonates and ischaemic colitis relating to serotonin antagonists. Here, the authors review the literature on drug-induced complications of the gastrointestinal tract and present the pertinent management issues relevant to clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: The University of New South Wales, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital, Eldridge Road, Bankstown, NSW 2200, Sydney, Australia. rupertleong@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Rupert W L
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Leong
authors.forename: Francis K L
authors.initials: FK
authors.lastname: Chan
mesh_terms: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001241:Aspirin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003092:Colitis / Q000209:etiology; D003106:Colon / Q000187:drug effects; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004164:Diphosphonates / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004380:Duodenal Obstruction / Q000209:etiology; D004381:Duodenal Ulcer / Q000209:etiology; D004941:Esophagitis / Q000209:etiology; D004947:Esophagus / Q000187:drug effects; D005885:Gingival Hyperplasia / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000187:drug effects; D009055:Mouth / Q000187:drug effects; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D004164:Diphosphonates; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016572:Cyclosporine; D001241:Aspirin