NURS 615 Exam 6: Laxatives | Questions with 100% Verified Answers | Latest
Update
Question: General laxative abuse risk
Answer:
All classes except bulk-producing agents can cause dependency/abuse with electrolyte and fluid
alterations, steatorrhea, osteomalacia, and vitamin/nutrient deficiencies.
Question: General laxative contraindication
Answer:
Do not use with unexplained nausea, vomiting, or abdominal pain, especially when bowel obstruction is
possible.
Question: Tartrazine-containing laxative risk
Answer:
May cause hypersensitivity, including bronchospasm, especially in aspirin-sensitive patients.
Question: Stimulant laxative examples
Answer:
Cascara, senna, bisacodyl, and castor oil.
Question: Stimulant laxative uses
Answer:
Constipation from immobility or drugs such as opioids, reduced GI motility, neurogenic bowel,
constipation-predominant IBS, and bowel preparation.
Question: Stimulant laxative mechanism
Answer:
Stimulates/irritates myenteric nerves and intestinal smooth muscle; increases prostaglandins and cAMP,
increasing electrolyte secretion and peristalsis.
Question: Stimulant laxative adverse effects
Answer:
Diarrhea, flatulence, abdominal cramping, and bloating.
Question: Castor oil pregnancy risk
Answer:
Can cause uterine contractions; avoid in pregnancy.
, Question: Cascara precautions
Answer:
May cause diarrhea in breastfed infants and contains alcohol.
Question: Bisacodyl precautions
Answer:
Cardiovascular disease is a relative contraindication; the course notes that it can be used in pregnancy.
Question: Osmotic laxative examples
Answer:
Magnesium hydroxide, magnesium citrate, sodium phosphate, and polyethylene glycol (PEG) 3350.
Question: Osmotic laxative mechanism
Answer:
Draws water into the intestinal lumen, increasing intraluminal pressure and stimulating peristalsis.
Question: Osmotic laxative uses
Answer:
Constipation and bowel preparation; saline osmotics act rapidly.
Question: Magnesium laxative contraindications
Answer:
Avoid with renal dysfunction, cardiac dysrhythmias or conduction disturbances, and hypocalcemia.
Question: PEG 3350 pediatric use
Answer:
Preferred course treatment for chronic constipation in children; use cautiously in pediatric patients.
Question: Bulk-producing laxative examples
Answer:
Psyllium, methylcellulose, and polycarbophil.
Question: Bulk laxative mechanism
Answer:
Combines with water like dietary fiber, distending the intestinal wall and mechanically increasing
peristalsis.
Update
Question: General laxative abuse risk
Answer:
All classes except bulk-producing agents can cause dependency/abuse with electrolyte and fluid
alterations, steatorrhea, osteomalacia, and vitamin/nutrient deficiencies.
Question: General laxative contraindication
Answer:
Do not use with unexplained nausea, vomiting, or abdominal pain, especially when bowel obstruction is
possible.
Question: Tartrazine-containing laxative risk
Answer:
May cause hypersensitivity, including bronchospasm, especially in aspirin-sensitive patients.
Question: Stimulant laxative examples
Answer:
Cascara, senna, bisacodyl, and castor oil.
Question: Stimulant laxative uses
Answer:
Constipation from immobility or drugs such as opioids, reduced GI motility, neurogenic bowel,
constipation-predominant IBS, and bowel preparation.
Question: Stimulant laxative mechanism
Answer:
Stimulates/irritates myenteric nerves and intestinal smooth muscle; increases prostaglandins and cAMP,
increasing electrolyte secretion and peristalsis.
Question: Stimulant laxative adverse effects
Answer:
Diarrhea, flatulence, abdominal cramping, and bloating.
Question: Castor oil pregnancy risk
Answer:
Can cause uterine contractions; avoid in pregnancy.
, Question: Cascara precautions
Answer:
May cause diarrhea in breastfed infants and contains alcohol.
Question: Bisacodyl precautions
Answer:
Cardiovascular disease is a relative contraindication; the course notes that it can be used in pregnancy.
Question: Osmotic laxative examples
Answer:
Magnesium hydroxide, magnesium citrate, sodium phosphate, and polyethylene glycol (PEG) 3350.
Question: Osmotic laxative mechanism
Answer:
Draws water into the intestinal lumen, increasing intraluminal pressure and stimulating peristalsis.
Question: Osmotic laxative uses
Answer:
Constipation and bowel preparation; saline osmotics act rapidly.
Question: Magnesium laxative contraindications
Answer:
Avoid with renal dysfunction, cardiac dysrhythmias or conduction disturbances, and hypocalcemia.
Question: PEG 3350 pediatric use
Answer:
Preferred course treatment for chronic constipation in children; use cautiously in pediatric patients.
Question: Bulk-producing laxative examples
Answer:
Psyllium, methylcellulose, and polycarbophil.
Question: Bulk laxative mechanism
Answer:
Combines with water like dietary fiber, distending the intestinal wall and mechanically increasing
peristalsis.
