Chapter 40 Antidiarrheal Drugs and Laxatives
Sealock Lilley’s Pharmacology for Canadian Health Care Practice
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A patient is on laxative therapy. What important information about this therapy should the
nurse provide the patient?
a. All laxative tablets should be crushed for improved
action. b. Bisacodyl should be given with water only.
c. A normal bowel pattern is when a bowel movement occurs daily.
d. Psyllium (Metamucil® preparations) can be mixed in food, such as applesauce, or stirred
into fruit juice.
ANS B
Bisacodyl is best taken on an empty stomach and should be given with water only, because
interactions with milk and antacids may occur. All laxative tablets should be swallowed whole. A
normal bowel pattern does not necessarily mean one bowel movement a day. Psyllium should be
taken with at least
240 mL of fluid.
DIF Cognitive Level Application
2. What type of laxative is glycerin?
a. A saline laxative
b. An emollient laxative
c. A hyperosmotic laxative
d. A stimulant/irritant laxative
ANS C
Glycerin is classified as a hyperosmotic
laxative. DIF Cognitive Level Knowledge
, 3. When preparing the bulk-forming laxative methylcellulose for administration, the nurse will mix
the medication with how much water to avoid possible obstruction?
a. 100
mL b.
12 mL c.
240 mL
d. 360 mL
ANS C
Methylcellulose should be mixed with at least 240 mL of
water. DIF Cognitive Level Comprehension
4. The nurse advises a patient to try bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol®) to control diarrhea.
Which medication will interact significantly with the Pepto-Bismol?
a. digoxin
b. Antacids
c. acetaminophen (Tylenol®)
d. tricyclic antidepressants
ANS A
Taking digoxin with an adsorbent such as Pepto-Bismol may result in decreased absorption of
the digoxin.
DIF Cognitive Level Comprehension
5. Which drug is commonly used to induce total cleansing of the bowel before diagnostic or
surgical bowel procedures?
a. polyethylene
glycol b. lactulose
c. mineral oil
d. milk of magnesia
Sealock Lilley’s Pharmacology for Canadian Health Care Practice
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A patient is on laxative therapy. What important information about this therapy should the
nurse provide the patient?
a. All laxative tablets should be crushed for improved
action. b. Bisacodyl should be given with water only.
c. A normal bowel pattern is when a bowel movement occurs daily.
d. Psyllium (Metamucil® preparations) can be mixed in food, such as applesauce, or stirred
into fruit juice.
ANS B
Bisacodyl is best taken on an empty stomach and should be given with water only, because
interactions with milk and antacids may occur. All laxative tablets should be swallowed whole. A
normal bowel pattern does not necessarily mean one bowel movement a day. Psyllium should be
taken with at least
240 mL of fluid.
DIF Cognitive Level Application
2. What type of laxative is glycerin?
a. A saline laxative
b. An emollient laxative
c. A hyperosmotic laxative
d. A stimulant/irritant laxative
ANS C
Glycerin is classified as a hyperosmotic
laxative. DIF Cognitive Level Knowledge
, 3. When preparing the bulk-forming laxative methylcellulose for administration, the nurse will mix
the medication with how much water to avoid possible obstruction?
a. 100
mL b.
12 mL c.
240 mL
d. 360 mL
ANS C
Methylcellulose should be mixed with at least 240 mL of
water. DIF Cognitive Level Comprehension
4. The nurse advises a patient to try bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol®) to control diarrhea.
Which medication will interact significantly with the Pepto-Bismol?
a. digoxin
b. Antacids
c. acetaminophen (Tylenol®)
d. tricyclic antidepressants
ANS A
Taking digoxin with an adsorbent such as Pepto-Bismol may result in decreased absorption of
the digoxin.
DIF Cognitive Level Comprehension
5. Which drug is commonly used to induce total cleansing of the bowel before diagnostic or
surgical bowel procedures?
a. polyethylene
glycol b. lactulose
c. mineral oil
d. milk of magnesia
