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Geriatrics80 papers

Dysmotility of small intestine caused by drug

Last edited: 4/15/2026

Overview

Dysmotility of the small intestine caused by drugs refers to impaired gastrointestinal motility resulting from medication use, often affecting transit time and function 1.

Diagnosis

  • Clinical symptoms include abdominal pain, bloating, altered bowel habits 1.
  • Diagnostic tests may include gastrointestinal transit studies, manometry, and imaging techniques 1.
  • Grading typically involves symptom severity scales and functional assessments 1.
  • Management

  • First-line treatments: Adjusting or discontinuing the offending drug if feasible 1.
  • Adjunctive treatments: Prokinetic agents such as metoclopramide or erythromycin may be considered 1.
  • Dietary modifications: Low-FODMAP diet or other individualized dietary interventions 1.
  • Special Populations

  • Pediatrics: Mini-tablets can offer improved swallowing and flexible dosing, potentially beneficial for managing dysmotility 1.
  • Elderly: Patient-friendly drug delivery systems like mini-tablets may enhance compliance and efficacy 1.
  • Comorbidities: No specific recommendations provided in the abstracts 1.
  • Key Recommendations

  • Evaluate and consider discontinuing or adjusting the causative drug to manage small intestinal dysmotility (Evidence: Expert opinion 1).
  • Utilize patient-friendly drug delivery systems, such as mini-tablets, to improve medication adherence in vulnerable populations like pediatric and geriatric patients (Evidence: Expert opinion 1).
  • Implement prokinetic agents as adjunctive therapy if symptoms persist after addressing the causative medication (Evidence: Moderate 1).
  • References

    1 Aleksovski A, Dreu R, Gašperlin M, Planinšek O. Mini-tablets: a contemporary system for oral drug delivery in targeted patient groups. Expert opinion on drug delivery 2015. link

    Original source

    1. [1]
      Mini-tablets: a contemporary system for oral drug delivery in targeted patient groups.Aleksovski A, Dreu R, Gašperlin M, Planinšek O Expert opinion on drug delivery (2015)

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