This essay focuses on common GI disorders in the Adult. For the purpose of this discussion select one of the following GI disorders
common GI disorders in the Adult
This week you have learned about common GI disorders in the Adult and Geriatric patient. For the purpose of this discussion select one of the following GI disorders and provide the following in your initial post:
· Common Signs and symptoms seen
- Give medications an adequate therapeutic trial. When treating inflammatory or neuropathic pain, benefits may take weeks or longer to appear.
- Patients need to know that whether prescribed or non-prescribed, all medications have risks and benefits. Watch for and manage side effects
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- Rational poly-pharmacy, or multi-nodal analgesia, includes the use of two or more medications with complementary mechanisms of action that may provide greater pain relief with less toxicity by using lower doses of each medication. However, avoid prescribing two medications in the same class at the same time. Use the least invasive route of administration, preferably oral.
- Be alert for additive side effects and possible interactions with other medication the patient is taking. Titrate doses to achieve optimal balance between analgesic benefit, side effects and functional improvement. Some medications require gradual upward titration to achieve optimal analgesia and to minimize adverse effects.
- Taper and discontinue medications that do not produce the desired therapeutic outcome and do not meet the treatment goals. This practice helps to prevent expensive and potentially dangerous poly-pharmacy.
· Screening assessment toolsPharmacologic treatment alone
should not be relied upon for treatment of chronic pain, but rather used as an adjunct to patient engagement and other modalities. Pharmacologic treatments should be initiated to increase function and restore a patient’s overall quality of life, not just pain relief. Medications are not the focus of treatment in managing pain. They should be used when needed to meet overall goals of therapy in conjunction with other treatment modalities, such as psychosocial, rehabilitation and functional management, non-pharmacologic, complementary medicine and interventional management.
· Recommended diagnostic tests (if any)
· Treatment plans both pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic based on current clinical practice guidelines
GI disorders:
GERD
Peptic Ulcer Disease
· Diverticulitis