RxSideEffect.org: The effects of drugs vary depending upon the drug taken

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Like most medicines, gastrointestinal tract drugs can cause side effects. These unwanted effects are often mild, but sometimes they are more serious and can have a major impact on health or quality of life. Most of modern gastrointestinal medications are very well tolerated and only rarely cause serious side effects. The effects of drugs can vary depending upon the kind of drug taken, how much is taken, how often it is used, how quickly it gets to the brain, and what other drugs, food, or substances are taken at the same time. Effects can also vary based on the differences in body size, shape, and chemistry. Gastrointestinal drugs differ in how commonly they cause particular side effects. Medications are prescribed for a specific purpose, and anything else the drug does is a side effect. The most common side effects are mild, like a slight headache. Others, like liver damage, can be severe and, in rare cases, fatal. Some go on for just a few days or weeks, but others might continue as long as you take a medication, or even after you stop. Some occur within days or weeks of starting a drug. Others may only show up after months or years of therapy.

Many people suffer from gastrointestinal problems, especially heartburn caused by gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Antacids contain basic salts, which interact with and neutralize the acid in your stomach on contact. Some antacids also contain simethicone, which helps relieve symptoms of gassy stomach. If you experience persistent heartburn, stomach acid, or ulcers, your doctor may prescribe a proton pump inhibitor. These medications are used to treat people with heartburn, stomach or intestinal ulcers, or excess stomach acid. Proton pump inhibitors reduce acid by shutting down the tiny pumps within cells in your stomach that secrete it.

Drugs can have adverse effects on any part of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract from mouth to colon. It is essential that a detailed and accurate drug history is taken in patients presenting with GI complaints. Diarrhea can occur throughout the continuum of cancer care, and the effects can be physically and emotionally devastating. If stool is not passed on a regular basis (once a day to several times a day), further investigation is warranted.