News | Gastrointestinal system diseases

Medicines regulator introduces age restrictions on OTC laxatives following safety review

Over-the-counter laxatives for adolescents aged 12 to 17 years can now only be supplied under the supervision of a pharmacist, following the results of a review by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.…

Inflammatory bowel disease may be linked to increased risk of dementia

People with inflammatory bowel disease have a significantly higher risk of developing dementia later in life, a study in Gut has suggested.…

Medicines regulator to publish review into safety of OTC laxatives

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency is to publish the results of a four-year review into the safety of over-the-counter stimulant laxatives, a spokesperson has confirmed.…

Relief from indigestion: a visual guide

Indigestion and heartburn affect four in ten people. This guide illustrates the options available over the counter for managing symptoms and how they work.…

Potential interaction between diuretics and laxatives found

Researchers have identified a plausible drug–drug interaction between laxatives and non-potassium-sparing diuretics.…

A day in the life of a liver intensive therapy unit pharmacist

Sara Sawieres details a typical day as lead pharmacist for the liver intensive therapy unit at King’s College Hospital.…

Aspirin combined with high-dose PPIs reduces cancer risk in Barrett’s oesophagus, research shows

Taking aspirin in combination with proton-pump inhibitors reduces the risk of oesophageal adenocarcinoma in patients with Barrett’s oesophagus, according to research presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology.…

Type 2 diabetes drug may be associated with inflammatory bowel disease

Early results from a trial investigating the link between antidiabetic drugs and autoimmune diseases may have found an association, researchers have revealed…

More research needed to investigate role of vitamin D in IBS treatment

A group of researchers has concluded that, while the literature indicates a potential role, further studies are needed before vitamin D can be considered a therapeutic option for people living with irritable bowel syndrome.…

Research identifies potential target for treating inflammatory skin diseases

Targeting Ripk1 could be an effective treatment for skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis, a study finds.…