Page 133 - Community pharmcy practice E-book 2025

02/11/2025, 00:29

Dyspepsia

Etiology
• Dyspepsia is a term used to describe pain or discomfort centred in the upper abdomen or
epigastric region, often associated with early satiety or feeling full soon after starting a meal.
• It may occur due to organic causes — e.g., peptic ulcer disease, gastritis, gastro-
oesophageal reflux disease (GERD), certain medications (NSAIDs), H. pylori infection.
• Or it may be functional dyspepsia (also called non-ulcer dyspepsia) when no clear
structural cause is found.
• Other contributing/triggers: large/heavy meals, fatty or greasy foods, coffee/caffeine,
alcohol, carbonated drinks, smoking, stress, medications that irritate the stomach lining (e.g.,
NSAIDs) and delayed gastric emptying.
• Pharmacist’s role: As a pharmacist you should take a brief history (meal-relation,
medication use, lifestyle factors), identify triggers, assess whether self-care is appropriate or if
red-flags are present requiring referral.

Symptoms
Typical symptoms of dyspepsia include: Pain or burning in the upper abdomen (epigastric region).
A feeling of early fullness — unable to finish a normal meal.
Uncomfortable fullness after eating (post-prandial fullness) or the sensation that food is staying in
the stomach too long.
Bloating, belching, nausea.

Note: Some overlap with other conditions (e.g., GERD, irritable bowel) so the pharmacist must
consider differential aspects.

Referral Cases (Red Flags)
As a pharmacist you should refer or advise medical review if any of the following apply:
• Onset of dyspepsia in older age (commonly >50 years) or recent weight loss without trying.

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