SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “CATHARTICS”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed1983

Effects of emetic and cathartic agents on the gastrointestinal tract and the treatment of toxic ingestion.

Emetic drugs and saline cathartics produce direct or reflex changes in gastrointestinal motility. The changes in gastrointestinal smooth muscle function may be important in the rapid oral or rectal expulsion of gastrointestinal contents, effects which serve as a basis for emetic and cathartic drug use in the treatment of toxic ingestion. Because of difficulties in recording gastrointestinal smooth muscle contractile activity from the intact, unanesthetized animal or man, relatively few studies have attempted to characterize the changes in gastrointestinal motility preceding vomiting. Limited results from past studies and the results of more recent studies employing improved technology suggest that pharmacological activation of the emetic reflex is accompanied by characteristic movements of the stomach and small intestine. The gastric response consists of initial muscle relaxation and an expansion of gastric volume. The intestine responds with a contraction, which begins in the distal ileum and migrates orad over the entire small intestine immediately before active retching. The changes in gastric and intestinal motility may be initiated by structures in the central nervous system and may be an important component of the emetic reflex. This article urges more active research to characterize the gastrointestinal emetic response and to investigate more generally the therapeutic value of emesis in the treatment of toxic ingestion. Emphasis should be placed on the clinically important emetic drugs apomorphine and syrup of ipecac. Studies comparing the efficiency of removal of gastrointestinal contents, resultant blood levels of orally administered drugs with and without emesis, differences in the gastrointestinal emetic response between agents and the pharmacology of the gastrointestinal emetic response should be performed. Studies should also be conducted to determine the pharmacology of the emetic sensory receptors in the gastrointestinal tract and the intraluminal physical-chemical or gastrointestinal physiological factors influencing gastrointestinal emetic sensory receptor activation. The results would demonstrate the value of emesis in various poison cases and help establish criteria for use and selection of emetic drugs. No less experimental attention should be devoted to the cathartic drugs.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of saline cathartics on the adsorption of sulphamethoxazole to activated charcoal.

The effect of added saline cathartics (sodium sulfate and magnesium sulfate) on the in vitro adsorption of sulphamethoxazole to activated charcoal was determined. Sulphamethoxazole, at 0.00125, 0.0025 and 0.005 mg/ml, had a 56.77 to 91.70 per cent adsorption to 50 mg and 200 mg activated charcoal. As the concentration of the activated charcoal was increased from 50 mg to 1000 mg, there was an increase in the amount of sulphamethoxazole adsorbed at 0.125, 0.25 and 0.5 mg/ml. The amount of sulphamethoxazole (0.125-0.5 mg/ml) adsorbed ranged from 10.33 to 83.67 per cent with a B50 value of 472.33 mg. At 7.5 mg/ml, the common saline cathartics sodium sulfate and magnesium sulfate decrease the B50 values to 274.65 and 41.20 mg, respectively. Both saline cathartics enhanced adsorption of sulphamethoxazole to activated charcoal.

Adsorption↗

PubMed1991

Effect of a bulk-forming cathartic on diarrhea in tube-fed patients.

Diarrhea is a significant complication for the patient being tube-fed. The purpose of this study was to observe whether giving a bulk-forming cathartic to patients receiving enteral nutrition via nasogastric or nasoduodenal tube would result in firmer stools for these patients. Forty-nine patients in a large medical center were randomly assigned to either a control or an experimental group. During the 6-day study period 1 teaspoon (5 ml) of psyllium preparation was administered through the feeding tube three times a day. Data were analyzed by using the Mann-Whitney U test for nonparametric data. The hypothesis that giving a bulk-forming cathartic would lead to firmer stools was supported at an alpha level of less than 0.01. The results of this study suggest that use of a bulk-forming cathartic in tube-fed patients will significantly reduce the diarrhea associated with this type of feeding.

Administration, Oral↗

PubMed1991

A new oral lavage solution vs cathartics and enema method for preoperative colonic cleansing.

Sulfate free-electrolyte lavage solution is a new osmotically balanced electrolyte gut lavage solution for colon surgery that has been formulated for improved taste and reduced water and electrolyte changes. Sixty patients were prospectively randomized to receive a 1-day preparation with sulfate free-electrolyte lavage solution or a 3-day preparation using a clear liquid diet, cathartics, and enemas. The patient groups were similar in age, race, male-female ratio, and the types of colonic resections performed. Colonic cleansing was better with sulfate free-electrolyte lavage solution (100% vs 63% "good" to "excellent" cleansing). Patient tolerance evaluated by a questionnaire showed more overall discomfort with sulfate free-electrolyte lavage solution but no difference between the preparations in individual symptoms of fullness, cramping, nausea, or vomiting. One patient developed a low level of serum potassium after a cathartic and enema preparation, while there were no complications with sulfate free-electrolyte lavage solution. Patient taste questionnaires showed a slight preference for sulfate free-electrolyte lavage solution (53%) over a polyethylene glycol electrolyte lavage solution (47%). This study confirms that sulfate free-electrolyte lavage solution is a safe and effective method of preoperative colonic cleansing.

Administration, Oral↗

PubMed1982

The effect of cathartics on prostaglandin synthesis by rat gastro-intestinal tract.

Rats were dosed with the cathartics cascara, phenolphthalein, senna or ricinoleic acid with or without a 3 day pretreatment with indomethacin. Jejunum, proximal and distal ileum and colon were assayed for prostaglandin E (PGE) content by RIA. While indomethacin significantly reduced the PGE content of all tissue in all treatment groups it did not completely prevent the increase in PGE content induced by phenolphthalein, senna and ricinoleic acid. It is concluded that the contact cathartics increase PGE synthesis by the gastro-intestinal tract and this could in part explain their action. Ricinoleic acid did not appear to act as a PG precursor.

Animals↗

PubMed1990

Serum magnesium concentrations after repetitive magnesium cathartic administration.

Severe hypermagnesemia has been reported by several authors after multiple doses of magnesium-containing cathartic are administered during management of a toxic ingestion. To evaluate the frequency and magnitude of serum magnesium elevations after the use of repetitive magnesium catharsis, we prospectively evaluated 102 patients who received multiple doses of magnesium citrate as a part of treatment of an overdose. Commonly ingested substances for which repetitive cathartic was administered were tricyclic antidepressants in 47%, aspirin in 17%, and phenytoin in 10%. For each case, serial electrolytes, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, calcium and magnesium were obtained. Mean initial serum magnesium concentration was 1.8 +/- .03 mEq/L. After a mean 960 mL of magnesium citrate (9.22 g magnesium), final mean serum magnesium concentration was 2.5 +/- .05 mEq/L. Forty-seven patients (47%) developed an elevated (greater than 2.4 mEq/L) serum magnesium concentration, with 12 greater than 3.0 mEq/L. No correlation was found between total quantity of magnesium citrate administered and the increment in serum magnesium concentration. Our data indicate that serum magnesium concentrations consistently rise after repetitive magnesium citrate use. However, the magnitude of this rise appears modest. The elevation in serum magnesium concentration does not correlate with the quantity of magnesium administered. We conclude that with close monitoring, repetitive magnesium citrate can be administered without inducing severe hypermagnesemia (serum magnesium concentration greater than 5.0 mEq/L).

Adolescent↗

PubMed1986

Saline cathartics and the adsorptive capacity of activated charcoal for aspirin.

The influence of three saline cathartics and tap water on the adsorption characteristics of activated charcoal for aspirin was studied with adsorption isotherms. Compared with distilled water, the adsorptive capacity of activated charcoal for aspirin was not significantly altered by magnesium sulfate, sodium sulfate, or tap water. Pretreating activated charcoal with magnesium citrate reduced the adsorptive capacity of activated charcoal by 15% (P less than .05). There was no significant correlation between mean pH values and adsorptive capacities in all test solutions. None of the saline cathartic solutions apparently displaced aspirin that already was adsorbed by activated charcoal.

Adsorption↗

PubMed1989

Efficacy of charcoal cathartic versus ipecac in reducing serum acetaminophen in a simulated overdose.

The traditional role of gastric emptying as the initial step in the management of the poisoned patient has recently been questioned; immediate activated charcoal administration has been recommended by some. In the setting of acetaminophen overdose, ipecac-induced emesis may interfere with subsequent oral antidotal therapy. Therefore, we conducted a study to compare the efficacy of initial therapy with ipecac with therapy with activated charcoal-cathartic in a simulated acetaminophen overdosage. Ten healthy volunteers participated in a randomized, crossover trial. Subjects ingested 3.0 g acetaminophen, followed by either no intervention, 30 mL syrup of ipecac, or 50 g activated charcoal-sorbitol solution at one hour. Serial acetaminophen levels were determined at intervals over eight hours. Both interventions significantly reduced the area under the curve compared with control (P less than .05). When comparing ipecac with activated charcoal-cathartic, no significant difference was noted among these groups.

Acetaminophen↗

PubMed1992

Rectal prolapse after oral cathartics.

Complete rectal prolapse or procidentia is an uncommon condition long recognized but of uncertain pathogenesis. We report two patients, seen a decade apart, both of whom developed complete rectal prolapse after ingestion of oral cathartics in preparation for diagnostic studies. To our knowledge, cathartic-induced complete rectal prolapse has not been reported previously in the current medical literature, despite the thousands of bowel preparations performed annually. These two cases address the implications of such an occurrence, and we discuss the pertinent management issues.

Aged↗

PubMed1972

Faecal ammonia and pH during lactulose administration in man: comparison with other cathartics.

The effect of lactulose on faecal pH and ammonia has been studied in three normal subjects with the aid of dialysis of faeces in vivo. Observations were also made with sodium sulphate and the two hexahydric alcohols, mannitol and sorbitol, given in doses sufficient to cause a similar increase in stool weight. All four cathartics rendered the stool more acid, but there was no increase in the concentration of faecal ammonia. Lactulose, despite increasing faecal volume, did not cause an increase in the absolute amount of ammonia lost in the faeces, but the other purgatives did show a modest rise. The results are inconsistent with the theory that lactulose benefits the clinical picture of portosystemic encephalopathy by trapping ammonia in an acid stool. An alternative suggestion is advanced, namely, that any cathartic (including lactulose) reduces ammonia absorption from the colon by decreasing colonic transit time, and so reducing the amount of ammonia generated by autolysis of colonic bacteria.

Adult↗

PubMed1989

Hypermagnesemia. A potential complication during treatment of theophylline intoxication with oral activated charcoal and magnesium-containing cathartics.

Toxic reaction to theophylline compounds is common. Oral activated charcoal (OAC) is a widely accepted mode of therapy for management of moderate to severe cases of theophylline toxicity. Magnesium-containing cathartics are generally recommended in conjunction with OAC in the treatment of drug or toxin ingestions. We report two cases of hypermagnesemia complicating the treatment of theophylline toxicity with OAC and magnesium citrate. In both patients, the hypermagnesemia contributed significantly to morbidity or mortality. In light of these cases and after review of the literature, we suggest that sorbitol be considered the cathartic agent of choice in the treatment of theophylline toxicity with OAC.

Aged↗

PubMed1988

Magnesium levels after magnesium-containing cathartics.

To determine the effect on serum Mg++ levels of oral Magnesium-containing cathartics (MgCC) used in the treatment of suspected drug overdose, a prospective, non-randomized study of 24 cases of suspected drug overdose was conducted. Ten cases admitted to the observation unit were assigned to the single dose MgCC group. Fourteen cases admitted to either the ICU or the observation unit were assigned to the multiple dose MgCC group. Single dose cases received 30 gm of magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) at 0 hours. Multiple dose cases received 3 30 gm doses of MgSO4 at 0, 4, and 8 hours. Mg++ levels were measured prior to each MgSO4 dose and 1 and 4 hours after the final dose in both groups. In the single dose group, there was no difference between baseline Mg++ levels and post MgSO4 levels, and only 2/10 developed slightly elevated levels (2.2, 2.3 mEq/L). In the multiple dose group, levels increased and remained significantly higher than baseline after the second MgSO4 dose, and 9/14 developed elevated levels (2.2 to 5.0 mEq/L). All patients who developed elevated Mg++ levels had normal BUN and creatinine values. When the single and multiple dose groups were compared, baseline Mg++ levels were no different (1.68 +/- 0.21 vs 1.69 +/- 0.24, p = 0.952), but peak Mg++ levels were significantly higher in the multiple dose group (1.80 +/- 0.31 vs 2.61 +/- 0.86, p = 0.004). Cases that developed hypermagnesemia had slightly higher baseline Mg++ levels (1.78 +/- 0.22 vs 1.60 +/- 0.19 mEq/L, p = 0.041). In the multiple dose group, higher peak Mg++ levels were noted in cases involving ingestions of anticholinergic or opioid drugs (2.83 vs 1.98, p = 0.025). Hypermagnesemia developed in some cases with normal renal function, blood pressure, and urine output. We conclude that significant hypermagnesemia can occur rapidly after use of multiple dose Mg++ cathartics in standard doses in patients with normal renal function.

Administration, Oral↗

PubMed1981

Purinergic reflex activated by cathartics in the rat.

Phenlaxine and bisacodyl were shown to inhibit gastric emptying and motility by activating a reflex arising from the small intestine. This effect produced by the cathartics could not be prevented either by alpha or beta sympatholytic, or by parasympatholytic agents; further it was antagonized by quinine and quinidine, as well as by chloroquine and mepacrine in doses found to suppress gastric motility in untreated animals. The inhibition of gastric motility through cathartics does not appear to be due to an effect on adrenergic or cholinergic pathways but rather to involve a purinergic mechanism.

Animals↗

PubMed1980

[Alteration of biogenic amines, serotonin, histamine and polyamines, in cases of diarrhea induced by various cathartics (author's transl)].

Effects of various cathartics on charcoal transport, permeability of blood vessels and biogenic amines (serotonin (5-HT), histamine (His), polyamines) in the small intestine of mice were investigated. Diarrhea was induced in mice by oral administration of magnesium sulfate, mannitol, dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate (DSS), castor oil and pilocarpine. In diarrhea following ingestion of magnesium sulfate and mannitol, vascular permeability in the intestinal membrane accompanied release of His from the small intestine, but such was not so when diarrhea was induced by DSS and castor oil. In diarrhea induced by various cathartics, 5-HT and His were apparently not related to intestinal motility. Thus, alteration in polyamine metabolism in the small intestine may exert an influence on transport of substances in cases of diarrhea in mice.

Animals↗

PubMed1975

Annoyance, type and duration of postannoyance activity, and aggression: the "cathartic effect".

A series of experiments was conducted to elucidate the conditions conductive to a decrease in aggression following annoyance. The potential capacity of expression of aggression to bring about a reduction in the amount of subsequent aggression was of particular interest. This empirical concern was supplemented by tests of several influential and competing theoretical concepts dealing with the cathartic aspects of human aggressive behavior. Given the failure of such concepts to account for major portions of the data, an integrative theoretical model was proposed. experiment 1 evaluated the usefulness of the hydraulic, self-arousal, and dissipation of anger concepts in accounting for the earlier demonstrations of the cathartic effect. In a 2 x 3 x 2 design, half of the subjects were annoyed by a confederate, while the other half were treated neutrally. During the next stage (the interpolated period), a third of all subjects gave "shocks" to the confederate, another third simply waited, while the remaining third worked on mathematical problems. Orthogonal to the first two facotrs was the duration of the interpolated period (7 to 13 min). The main dependent measure was the number of shocks administered to the confederate in the final stage of the experiment. It was found that annoyed subjects gave more shocks than nonannoyed ones did, and that only the former were substantially affected by other manipulations. In the case of the annoyed wait and annoyed math subjects, the anger dissipation hypothesis correctly predicted that the mere passage of time would decrease the amount of subsequent aggression, presumably due to the action of homeostatic processes. The self-arousal hypothesis correctly predicted that the annoyed math subjects would give fewer shocks than the annoyed wait ones would. Since the subjects were engaged in an absorbing activity, the likelihood of their arousing themselves by ruminations about the preceding annoying incident was minimized, and the amount of subsequent aggression reduced. Yet, when annoyed subjects had given the confederate a moderate number of shocks in the interpolated period, they subsequently gave him fewer shocks than the 7-min annoyed wait and annoyed math subjects; this was the only outcome predicted correctly by the hydraulic model. In contrast, when a large number of shocks had been administered in the interpolated period, the amount of subsequent aggression was relatively high. The interpretation of the latter result in terms of an "adaption effect" was tested by further experiments.

Abreaction↗

PubMed1992

Does an attempted suicide actually have a cathartic effect?

It has been suggested in empirical studies that an attempted suicide has a cathartic effect. However, only one study used a control group of depressives who had not attempted suicide. A replication of these results using more strictly defined patient groups and a more comprehensive assessment of the psychopathology during index treatment was not possible. Major depressives with and without suicide attempts before index admission displayed similar courses of their depressive symptoms and somatic complaints during index treatment. The cathartic effect of a suicide attempt may be restricted to a severe major depression or to a violent suicide attempt.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Weakness from magnesium-containing cathartics: electrophysiologic studies.

The case history of a patient with severe muscular weakness resulting from magnesium intoxication following oral and rectal administration of magnesium citrate cathartics is reported. The findings of the electrophysiologic studies were characteristic of the neuromuscular blockade seen in this disorder, including marked reduction in evoked muscle action potential amplitude which progressively decline on nerve stimulation at low rates, and a striking degree of facilitation of evoked muscle action potential after exercise or on high-frequency stimulation. When the hypermagnesemia was corrected, strength returned to normal.

Action Potentials↗

PubMed2003

Gastrointestinal protectants and cathartics.

The purpose of this article is to provide the reader with an overview of gastrointestinal cathartics and protectants and to point out possible applications for use in the horse with gastrointestinal disease. Most of the treatments described in this article have been used by the authors with apparent success; however, controlled studies with subsequent publication in the scientific literature with respect to these treatments in the horse are, for the most part, lacking. The authors view this emerging field of treatment as exciting and look forward to substantiating the efficacy of several of the treatments discussed.

Animals↗