Page 65 - Community pharmcy practice E-book 2025

01/11/2025, 22:08 Medication Errors & Constipation Management

Frequent Enema Side Effects

Bowel irritation
Fluid and electrolyte disturbance
Muscle tone loss

Who Should Avoid Enemas?

Persons suffering from an extreme condition of piles and rectum ulcers
Very weak people (after conditions of acute illnesses or otherwise)

Soapsuds Enema

Definition: The injection of a mixture of water and soap into the colon
Rectal biopsies showed surface epithelium loss after soapsuds and tap water
enemas
Monovalent soap is recommended

Lactulose

Drug interaction: It shouldn't be given concomitantly with locally acting
aminoglycoside antibiotics
Administration guidelines (patient counseling): It should be taken with fruit juice,
water or milk to increase its palatability
Other uses: It is used to decrease blood ammonia level in hepatic encephalopathy
Note: Lactulose may be useful for initial treatment of constipation in geriatric
patients.

Lactulose Contraindications

Galactosemia and lactose intolerance (as the preparations available on the market
contain small amounts of galactose and lactose)
Diabetes mellitus

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