Healthy Skepticism Library item: 10525

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Publication type: Journal Article

Krznaric Z.
Drugs in gastroenterology
Medicus 2003; 11:(1):67-78

Abstract:

Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract are on the third or fourth place in the structure of mortality and main causes of hospitalisation. There is a marked increase of drug consumption used in treatment of digestive tract diseases both in hospitals and ambulatory / outpatients departments. Especially high is the prescribing and consumption of gastric acid inhibiting drugs, but also of antiemetics, laxatives and drugs for diarrhoea. The spectrum of antiulcer drugs available on the market ranges from antacids, H2 receptor antagonists, of proton pump inhibitors to drugs like sucralfate and ranitidine-bismuth-citrate. Although these drug groups are well known both to doctors and patients and are widely prescribed for a number of years, there are still dilemmas connected to their indications and mode of application.