Gastrointestinal Disorder :Commercial Critique Paper
Gastrointestinal Disorder
Instructions:
- Critique a TV or radio commercial, an Internet advertisement, or a print advertisement from a nonprofessional journal/magazine related to an FDA-regulated prescription drug for a gastrointestinal disorder.
- Critique a TV or radio commercial, an Internet advertisement, or a print advertisement from a nonprofessional journal/magazine related to a non-FDA-regulated over-the-counter medication/herbal for a gastrointestinal (GI) disorder.
Include a description of the pathophysiology of the GI disorder and how the medication/herbal alters that pathophysiology.
Compare and contrast the two commercials, including their stated use of medication/herbal, patient safety issues, analysis of company claims for any drug benefits. Substantiate your thoughts and ideas with evidence-based research/articles.
Prepare this assignment according to the APA guidelines.
Solution.
Gastrointestinal Disorder :Commercial Critique Paper
Introduction
Gastrointestinal Disorder
Irritable bowel syndrome(IBS) is a disorder located in the gastrointestinal zone, and it affects about 11% of the population globally. In the USA, the prevalence lies between 10-20 percent of the residents and has a yearly incidence rate of 1-2% (Wangen, 2005). Irritable Bowel Syndrome is often referred to as Spastic Colon, is one of the most common diseases that affects women who range between 20-30 years. The symptoms related to IBS include chronic epochs of diarrhea, bloating, constipation, stomach cramps, the presence of mucus in feces, and feeling of incomplete evacuation. Research suggests IBS symptoms are that predictable as its diagnostic criteria are highly predictive of the absence emergent symptoms such as weight loss, intestinal bleeding, and fever (Drossman, 2016). Some of the causes of this gastrointestinal disorder have been found to be unclear. However, there are there are different factors that contribute to IBS. Research has it that abdominal narrowing, hypersensitivity and massive secretions in the colon and intestines are greatly associated with IBS causation.
Additionally, it is observed that anxiety and stress are common with the aggravation of IBS or spastic colon. Major symptoms that IBS patients experience are caused by the systemic visceral pains that are initiated by the afferent fibers initially activated by the mediators like serotonin and cytokines due to intestinal degranulation of mast cells (Drossman, 2016). Patients suffering from IBS always experience a difference in the usual way on how certain foods are digested. Normally, the contraction and relaxation of the intestinal walls, as food passes through the stomach is entirely altered in persons suffering from IBS (Drossman, 2016). Case in point, the contraction process of the intestinal walls is far much stronger and lasts longer causing food to be accelerated in the tract resulting to bloating diarrhea, pain, gas and bloating.
Medication and Pathophysiology
Advert 1
Medications through prescriptions do not cure IBS, rather, they alter its symptoms. A commercial for a medication towards IBS treatment is the Donnatal protracted release. The commercial mostly occurs in television. This commercial, advocate for a combination of several drugs such as phenobarbital, hyoscyamine and atropine sulphate, and belladonna which provides a limited anticholinergic action to a mild sedation. After a systematic review of the drugs involved in this combination, it is evident that only phenobarbital has no anticholinergic effects. Anticholinergics are a type of medication that impede the parasympathetic nerve impulses imminently by a particular block introduced to the binding of the acetylcholine to its nerve cell receptors. The involuntary movements of smooth muscles in the gastrointestinal tract are triggered by the nerve fibers of the of the parasympathetic system (Drossman, 2016). The sedative nature of Donnatal is evident with the presence of phenobarbital. Therefore, in justification of Donnatal, it is important to consider the statement as straightforward and precise because when the medication is administered. It is evident that the muscles in the tract slow down on their rate of contractions as it allows for normal movement of the intestines.
In Donnatal commercial, it portrays the medication as and adjunctive therapy to IBS and other conditions such as spastic colon, mucus colitis and so on. The FDA classifies this drug as “possibly effective” (Moayyedi, et al., 2010).Also FDA explains that a patient cannot take a drug that has higher side effects that its treatment benefit. Alternatively, the advertisement suggests that the advantages of the drug lie within the twelve-hour release formula. The commercial stipulates that patients who suffer a night will capitalize on the twelve-hour release.It is debatable since research suggest that most of the IBS patients do not suffer through the evening. The concrete reason behind this is that, when an individual is asleep, contractions in the colon and ileum are small compared to those that happen during daytime (Donnatal, 2016). Other side effects that Donnatal presents include the heat bowing with belladonna, in the presence of high temperatures. Therefore, customers are advised not to use it in hot environments.
As an early symptom of incomplete intestinal blockage, with patients suffering from colostomy and ileostomy, diarrhea features cannot be treated with Donnatal Extend Tabs because can cause drowsiness coupled with blurred vision. Patients are warned that when these side effects occur, one must not participate in activities that do not involve mental alertness, for example, operating an automobile, or not engage in hazardous works. Alternatively, Phenobarbital is addictive and should not be administered to patients who are addict-prone or individuals who have an antiquity of psychological addiction to drugs. Since Phenobarbital particles are metabolized in the liver, it is important to note that the medication should be administered in small amounts similar small doses to patients with hepatic dysfunctions (Donnatal, 2016). Another adverse effect of Donnatal is constipation. In this case, diarrhea is a safe concern and constipation is a negated reaction (Donnatal, 2016). Therefore, a question emerges as consumers will not distinguish the origin of diarrhea or constipation since they are both symptoms of IBS.
The commercial focusses on relaying a message to the consumer concerning their condition as controlled during the day and night with the extend releases pills. This commercial cultivates confidence with its statement that clinicians have successfully prescribed Donnatal medication for thirty years as an aide to other interventions. Even though FDA have stated that Donnatal Extend Tabs are “possibly effective” as an adjunctive treatment, they did not make any recommendations on concerning the vivacity of Donnatal Extend Tabs or a recommended approach for medication of IBS. No studies have come up to validate this advertisement on any claims made. Therefore, as a healthcare professional, I cannot recommend such a medication because of lack of validations and various adverse side effects that confuse the patients suffering from IBS.
Advert 2
Secondly, an alternative therapy for IBS is the Peppermint Oil, advertised in Dr. Weil MD’s commercial of peppermint. The commercial focusses on the on how the herb helps in the medication of conditions. The advertisement shows that peppermint can help reducing common cold, heartburn relief, indigestion, IBS and other conditions. The advertisement outlines that peppermint oil helps in the treatment of IBS and other intestinal problems, it does reflect upon its pharmacological or physiological implications on the intestinal tract. Merat, et al., (2010), stipulated that peppermint is a relaxer agent on smooth muscles in the intestinal walls, but the advertisement did not include this study. With the behaviors of customers, they cannot research about additional information about peppermint. Rather, the advertisement mentioned that consumers are supposed to swallow undiluted peppermint oil. The advertisement focused on the treatment of heartburn and the treatment of IBS. According to Web MD (2011), it is suggested that peppermint tea worsens heartburns and indorses swift movement of bile from the gall bladder and confound gallstones. Also, one side effect of peppermint oil is that it causes a burning effect because of the menthol in the herb. Therefore, clinicians recommend that patients should take the enteral-coated pills. This phenomenon is relevant to the consumer information. This advertisement was constructed beautifully but lacked the relevant information that is essential for consumers. Personally, I would not buy the oil if only the advertisement were the only method to convince me. With my research, it is evident that peppermint has no antispasmodic effects. Also, it has a minimal number of side-effects. Therefore, I would prefer to use for IBS treatment or intervention.
Comparisons and Conclusions
Donnatal has four drugs to combine, where three have anticholinergic effects that work on the even and smooth muscles in the intestinal tract. On the other hand, peppermint oil has been found to be an active relaxer of the gastrointestinal smooth muscle, because of the dynamic effects on calcium pathways in the gut. Both medications seem to work on the smooth muscles in the tract so as to decelerate and relax the contractions. Also, in both commercials patients have been given warnings as Donnatal presenting more warnings than those of Peppermint. Donnatal tabulated the side effects, but the Weil’s advertisement did not report any findings.
Conclusively, based on the two critical viewpoints of the two advertisement, I will go for peppermint due to the personal research that I have conducted through evidence-based research. I would use Donnatal in occasions where other alternatives have failed. Research is minimal on the value claims of Donnatal. Otherwise, it has numerous side effects, warnings, and adverse effects. Even both drugs are used daily around USA and Canada, tabling the negativities and positivity on each drug, I will settle for peppermint oil as a recommended medication over Donnatal Extend Tablets.
References
Donnatal. (2016, January 1). Donanatal Tablets. Retrieved from Donnatal: http://www.donnatal.com/about-donnatal/donnatal-tablets/#side-effects
Drossman, D. A. (2016). Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders: History, Pathophysiology, Clinical Features, and Rome IV. Gastroenterology, 150(6), 1262-1279.
MD, W. (2011). Pepermint Herbal Remedies. Retrieved August 7, 2016, from Dr. WEIL: http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/REM00015/Peppermint-Dr-Weils-Herbal-Remedies.html
Merat, S., Khalili, S., Mostajabi, P., Ghorbani, A., Ansari, R., & Malekzadeh, R. (2010). The Effect of Enteric-Coated, Delayed-Release Peppermint Oil on Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Digestive Diseases and Sciences, 55(5), 1385-1390.
Moayyedi, P., Ford, A. C., Talley, N. J., Cremonini, F., Foxx-Orenstein, A. E., Brandt, L. J., & Quigley, E. M. (2010). The Efficacy of Probiotics in The Treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Systematic Review. Gut, 59(3), 325-332.
Wangen, S. &. (2005). The Irritable Bowel Syndrome Solution. Seatle, Washington, United States of America: Innate Health Publising.