4-10. CATEGORIES AND SPECIFIC EXAMPLES OF CATHARTICS
Many cathartics are on the shelves of military and civilian pharmacies. You can help
yourself (and your patients) if you are able to categorize a specific agent into a
particular category of agents. Why? Because each category of cathartics has certain
general information that pertain to drug interactions, side effects, and patient
precautionary statements. Therefore, if you are able to correctly categorize an agent,
you should be able to predict side effects and precautionary statements related to that
product. The information below provides you with general information pertaining to
each category of drugs. Invest some time learning this material. Specific statements
pertaining to side effects and precautionary statements will not be repeated when the
individual agents are discussed.
a. Bulk-Forming Cathartics. The person taking a bulk-forming cathartics
should be told to drink a full glass of fluid (one glass = 8 fluid ounces = 240 milliliters)
when ingesting the cathartic. Persons taking bulk-forming cathartics should not expect
immediate results. Instead, they should be told that the bulk-forming cathartics take
from one to three days to produce their effects. Furthermore, it is generally
recommended that the patient taking antibiotics, anticoagulants, digitalis preparations,
or salicylates wait at least two hours after they take a dose of these drugs before they
ingest the cathartics. This is recommended because the interaction between the drug
and the cathartic could result in less of the drug being absorbed. Side effects are rare
with the bulk-forming cathartics. However, intestinal impaction has occurred in patients
who did not drink enough water while taking the products. The cathartic habit does not
occur with bulk-forming laxatives. Consequently, they are sometimes prescribed for
extended use.
(1) Malt soup extract (Maltsupex). This product is available in tablet, liquid,
and powder form. Label these products "Take with a full glass of water."
(2) Methylcellulose (Cellothyl). Methylcellulose is available in tablet,
capsule, solution, and powder form. Label these products "Take with a full glass of
water."
(3) Polycarbophil calcium (Mitrolan). This product is available in tablet
form. The patient should be told to chew or crush the tablets before swallowing them.
NOTE:
This product is sometimes given at 1/2 hour intervals in the treatment of
diarrhea.
(4) Psyllium (Effersyllium, Serutan). This product is available in powder
form. The powder should be placed in 1/2 glass of water (one full teaspoonful in 1/2
glass of water). When the product is dispensed, tell the patient to keep the container in
a dry place and keep it tightly capped.
MD0807
4-6