PC 707 EXAMINERS 2026 SET QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS SURE A+✔✔Black psyllium: - ✔✔-can be used for
constipation
-adverse effects are transient flatulence & abdominal distention
-make sure to consume enough water to avoid esophageal & bowel obstructions*
✔✔Blond psyllium: - ✔✔-can be used for constipation
-as effective as Senokot & Colace
-not as effective as prunes*
✔✔Prunes: - ✔✔-can be used for mild or moderate constipation
-safe, palatable, and more effective than psyllium
✔✔What is irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)? - ✔✔-functional
-no specific organic pathology
-abdominal pain, altered bowel habits, and abdominal distention
-can be predominately constipation, diarrhea, or alternating
-said to have "excessive" bacteria
-goals are symptom relief*
✔✔What treatments are available for IBS? - ✔✔-exercise
-broad spectrum antibiotics (rifaximin-Xifaxan)--to help "reduce" the number of bacteria
colonizing--to decrease symptoms
-antispasmodics (dicyclomine-Bentyl)
-peppermint oil
-probiotics (bifidobacteria)
-diet changes (low FODMAP)
-antidepressant (SSRIs & try-cyclic)--decreases abdominal pain unrelated to decreasing
depression*
-anti-diarrheals (loperamide-Imodium)
✔✔Why is a FODMAP used in treatment of IBS? - ✔✔-"fermentable, oligosaccharides,
disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols"
, -foods high in these often cause bloating, abdominal pain, gas
-eliminate all foods high in these for 3-8 weeks then slowly reintroduce them into diet to
determine which are tolerable and which aren't
✔✔What are the effectiveness of probiotics? - ✔✔-the effectiveness is species, dose,
and disease specific
-can help stabilize the "normal gut flora"
-they can help decrease flatulence and abdominal pain
*Contraindicated in those who are immunocompromised*
✔✔What are the two most commonly used probiotics? - ✔✔-Bifidobacteria or
Lactobacillus
-combination of both
✔✔What if you are giving probiotics and antibiotics? - ✔✔-always space probiotics 2
hours from antibiotics
✔✔What is Bifidobacteria? - ✔✔-part of the normal gut flora
-used as a probiotic
-can be effective for IBS
-when used as an adjunctive in tx of H. Pylori--especially in combo with lactobacillus
can reduce effects from treatment
-can increase remission rates in ulcerative colitis
-can usually notice effects in 1 week
-can reduce abdominal pain, bloating, bowel routine difficulty, and constipation
-must store in fridge
-must continue using for continued effects
✔✔What is lactobacillus? - ✔✔-part of the normal gut flora
-used as a probiotic
-used to prevent and treat GI distress
-can prevent infectious diarrhea
-can prevent and treat antibiotic associated diarrhea
-used as adjunctive in tx of H. Pylori
-possibly safe in lactation & pregnancy
✔✔Nausea and vomiting? When do you treat? - ✔✔-common, usually self-limiting, most
don't need tx
-goal is symptom relief, prevent dehydration, and selection of drug is based on cause of
symptoms
✔✔What treatment options are available for N/V? - ✔✔-antihistamines
-phenothiazines
-sedative hypnotics
ANSWERS SURE A+✔✔Black psyllium: - ✔✔-can be used for
constipation
-adverse effects are transient flatulence & abdominal distention
-make sure to consume enough water to avoid esophageal & bowel obstructions*
✔✔Blond psyllium: - ✔✔-can be used for constipation
-as effective as Senokot & Colace
-not as effective as prunes*
✔✔Prunes: - ✔✔-can be used for mild or moderate constipation
-safe, palatable, and more effective than psyllium
✔✔What is irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)? - ✔✔-functional
-no specific organic pathology
-abdominal pain, altered bowel habits, and abdominal distention
-can be predominately constipation, diarrhea, or alternating
-said to have "excessive" bacteria
-goals are symptom relief*
✔✔What treatments are available for IBS? - ✔✔-exercise
-broad spectrum antibiotics (rifaximin-Xifaxan)--to help "reduce" the number of bacteria
colonizing--to decrease symptoms
-antispasmodics (dicyclomine-Bentyl)
-peppermint oil
-probiotics (bifidobacteria)
-diet changes (low FODMAP)
-antidepressant (SSRIs & try-cyclic)--decreases abdominal pain unrelated to decreasing
depression*
-anti-diarrheals (loperamide-Imodium)
✔✔Why is a FODMAP used in treatment of IBS? - ✔✔-"fermentable, oligosaccharides,
disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols"
, -foods high in these often cause bloating, abdominal pain, gas
-eliminate all foods high in these for 3-8 weeks then slowly reintroduce them into diet to
determine which are tolerable and which aren't
✔✔What are the effectiveness of probiotics? - ✔✔-the effectiveness is species, dose,
and disease specific
-can help stabilize the "normal gut flora"
-they can help decrease flatulence and abdominal pain
*Contraindicated in those who are immunocompromised*
✔✔What are the two most commonly used probiotics? - ✔✔-Bifidobacteria or
Lactobacillus
-combination of both
✔✔What if you are giving probiotics and antibiotics? - ✔✔-always space probiotics 2
hours from antibiotics
✔✔What is Bifidobacteria? - ✔✔-part of the normal gut flora
-used as a probiotic
-can be effective for IBS
-when used as an adjunctive in tx of H. Pylori--especially in combo with lactobacillus
can reduce effects from treatment
-can increase remission rates in ulcerative colitis
-can usually notice effects in 1 week
-can reduce abdominal pain, bloating, bowel routine difficulty, and constipation
-must store in fridge
-must continue using for continued effects
✔✔What is lactobacillus? - ✔✔-part of the normal gut flora
-used as a probiotic
-used to prevent and treat GI distress
-can prevent infectious diarrhea
-can prevent and treat antibiotic associated diarrhea
-used as adjunctive in tx of H. Pylori
-possibly safe in lactation & pregnancy
✔✔Nausea and vomiting? When do you treat? - ✔✔-common, usually self-limiting, most
don't need tx
-goal is symptom relief, prevent dehydration, and selection of drug is based on cause of
symptoms
✔✔What treatment options are available for N/V? - ✔✔-antihistamines
-phenothiazines
-sedative hypnotics
