Gastrointestinal Motility Drugs: PTCB Exam Essentials

GI Motility Medications

Gastrointestinal motility drugs regulate the movement of food through the digestive tract. These medications are frequently dispensed in both retail and hospital pharmacies, making them important for PTCB exam preparation.

Prokinetic Agents

Prokinetics increase GI motility and are used to treat conditions like gastroparesis and GERD. Important medications include:

• Metoclopramide (Reglan) stimulates upper GI motility and has antiemetic properties
• Erythromycin at low doses acts as a motilin receptor agonist
• Domperidone is used in some countries but has limited availability in the US

Pharmacy technicians should note that metoclopramide carries a black box warning for tardive dyskinesia with prolonged use.

Antidiarrheal Agents

These medications slow GI motility to manage diarrhea:

• Loperamide (Imodium) acts on opioid receptors in the gut wall without crossing the blood-brain barrier at normal doses
• Diphenoxylate/atropine (Lomotil) is a Schedule V controlled substance
• Bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol) has both antimicrobial and antisecretory effects

Laxatives and Stool Softeners

• Polyethylene glycol (MiraLAX) is an osmotic laxative for occasional constipation
• Docusate sodium (Colace) is a surfactant stool softener
• Senna and bisacodyl are stimulant laxatives
• Lubiprostone (Amitiza) and linaclotide (Linzess) treat chronic idiopathic constipation

GI medications appear frequently on the PTCB exam. Review these and hundreds more drug facts with our practice exam questions and study flashcards.