Diarrhea with corticosteroids

Oral Treatment of hypokalemia in the following conditions With or without metabolic alkalosis digitalis intoxication familial periodic paralysis diabetic acidosis diarrhea and vomiting surgical conditions accompanied by nitrogen loss, vomiting, suction drainage, diarrhea, and increased urinary excretion of potassium certain cases of uremia hyperadrenalism starvation and debilitation corticosteroid or diuretic therapy. 

Hypokalemia - Hypokalemia may develop during concomitant corticosteroids, ACTH, and especially with brisk diuresis, with severe liver disease or cirrhosis, vomiting or diarrhea, or after prolonged therapy. 

Crohn s disease involves inflammation of the gut. Us cause is not known, but evidence suggests that infection with Mifcobactefium paraluberculosis may be a contributing factor (Herm on-Taylor, 1993). The inflammation results in steatorrhea, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and weight loss. Crohn s disease is usually treated with drugs (corticosteroids), but it may also be treated by the elimination of a normal diet and its replacement with an elemental diet. The elemental diet consists of oligosaccharides, amino acids, and short-chain faltj acids. This diet is not very palatable, but it can result in relief of symptoms and a reduction in inflammation of the intestines. Two weeks of dietary treatment may be sufficient to allow inflammation to subside (Lochs et iJt., 1991). 

Amphetamines have also been associated with a syndrome of acute kidney injury and rhabdomyolysis. Several series have described patients following intravenous injection of methamphetamine or phenmetrazine who presented with hyperactivity, fever, chills, sweats, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, and hypotension [177,178]. The patients have developed acute kidney injury which is usually oliguric and associated with classic rhabdomyolysis, similar to cases of cocaine-induced rhabdomyolysis. Several patients have had disseminated intravascular coagulation and liver function abnormalities as well. Methamphetamine abuse has also been associated with accelerated hypertension, unexplained chronic renal failure, acute lead poisoning (a common reagent used in its production utilizes lead acetate) and at least one case of biopsy proven interstitial nephritis the latter patient responded to intravenous corticosteroids but whether the nephritis was truly due to amphetamines remains unproven [179]. 

A patient with a history of UC is experiencing a "flare-up." She has been having six to seven episodes of diarrhea per day and has a loss of appetite. She is currently taking mesalamine for maintenance and loperamide to help minimize bouts of diarrhea. Her labs are significant for an elevated serum sodium of 147 mEq/L and low serum potassium of 3.1 mEq/L. Which corticosteroid would be the most appropriate to start for induction of remission ... 

Zinc Dermatitis, hypogeusia, alopecia, diarrhea, apathy, depression, growth retardation, impaired wound healing, immunosuppression Acute gastric distress, nausea, dizziness, death with large intravenous doses Chronic immunosuppression, decreased HDL, copper deficiency Decreased infection, hypoalbuminemia, corticosteroids, pregnancy, burns, stress, inflammation Increased tissue injury, hemolysis, contaminated collection tube... 

Three treatments are available for patients with acute gouty arthritis. Colchicine is less favored now than in the past because its onset of action is slow and it invariably causes diarrhea. Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, which are currently favored, are rapidly effective but may have serious side effects. Corticosteroids, administered either intraarticularly or parenterally, are used increasingly in patients with monarticular gout, especially if oral drug therapy is not feasible. 

There is an increased risk of diarrhea in patients taking misoprostol with the m nesium-containing antacids. Sulfasalazine may increase the risk of toxicity of oral hypoglycemic dru, zidovudine, methotrexate, and phenytoin. There is an increased risk of crys-talluria when sulfasalazine is administered with medienamine. A decrease in the absorption of iron and folic acid may occur when these ents are administered with sulfasalazine. When bismuth subsalicylate is administered witli aspirin-containing dru, there is an increased risk of salicylate toxicity. There is an increased risk of toxicity of valproic acid and methotrexate and decreased effectiven s of the corticosteroids when these agents are administered with bismuth subsalicylate. 

In clinical chemistry, the variations of the Na concentration level in the extracellular fluid are interpreted as follows [3] (1) The level of Na" is elevated in dehydration (water deficit), central nervous system trauma or disease, and hyperadrenocorticism with hyperaldosteronism or corticosterone of corticosteroid excess. (2) A decrement of the Na level is observed in adrenal insufficiency, in renal insufficiency (especially with inadequate Na intake), in renal tubular acidosis as a physiological response to trauma and bums (Na shifts into cells), in unusual losses via the gastrointestinal tract as in acute or chronic diarrhea or intestinal obstruction or fistula, and in unusual sweating with inadequate sodium replacement. In some patients with edema associated with cardiac or renal disease, seram Na concentration is low, even though total body sodium content is greater than normal water retention (excess antidiuretic hormone, ADH) and abnormal distribution of sodium between intracellular and extracellular fluid contribute to this paradoxical situation. Hyperglycemia occasionally results in a shift of intracellular water to the extracellular... 

Disturbances in the electrolyte and fluid balance of the body which are tissociated with (a) persistent vomiting due to an obstructive growth, (b) vomiting due to pressure from a brain tumor, (c) diarrhea induced by hormone secreting cancers and cancer of the colon, (d) cancers which disrupt the reletise of antidiuretic hormone from the posterior pituitary, and (e) tumors causing excessive secretion of corticotropin or corticosteroid which results in hyperadrenalism. 

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