Gastrointestinal drugs

1. Active vocabulary.

antacid		засіб, що нейтралізує кислоту
heartburn		печія
brand name		торгівельиа марка
to purchase		купувати
to promote		сприяти
to inhibit		пригнічувати
underlying		основний, той, що лежить в основі
to resist		чинити опір
to recur		повторюватись, відбуватись зиону

2. Lead in. Work with the text.

1. Match the words with the definitions.

1. brand name	a. a substance that eliminates the burning feeling in your stomach when you have eaten too much, drunk too much alcohol etc.
2. to inhibit	b. to help something develop or increase
3. antacid	c. to buy something
4. underlying	d. to prevent something from growing or developing well
5. to purchase	e. the most important, although not easily noticed
6. to recur	f. not to be changed or harmed by something
7. heartburn	g. the name given to a product by the company that makes it
8. to promote	h. to happen again (especially about something bad or unpleasant)
9. to resist	i. an unpleasant burning feeling in your stomach or chest caused by acid from your stomach

3. Read and translate the text.

Gastrointestinal Drugs

Antacid (aluminum hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, aluminum carbonate, calcium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, hydrotalcite, bis­muth subsalicylate) is any of a group of drugs that neutralize acid in the digestive system. Hydrochloric acid, produced in the stomach, is important to digestion. However, this acid can cause pain when it comes in contact with peptic ulcers, sores that can occur in the lining of the esophagus, stomach, or duodenum. Antacids help relieve or prevent pain associated with peptic ulcere by neutralizing this acid. People also take antacids to stop the pain of heartburn and indigestion.

Many antacid products contain compounds of aluminum, magne­sium, or, often, both. These chemicals react with acids to form more neutral compounds that do not irritate peptic ulcers. By relieving ir­ritation, antacids can also help promote healing of the ulcers. Many doctors recommend their use along with other antiulcer drugs, such as antibiotics and histamine H2-receptor antagonists (for example, ci- metidine).

Antacids come in tabley capsule, and liquid form. Commonly used antacids include such brand-name products as Maalox and Mylanta. Turns, another common antacid, contains a compound of calcium that is helpful for digestion but not recommended for ulcer treatment. These drugs ordinarily do not cause harmful side effects, and a doctor's prescription is not needed to purchase them. However, antacids that contain magnesium hydroxide can cause diarrhea, while those with aluminum hydroxide can cause constipation. Problems also may develop when antacids are used for long periods. For example, extensive use of antacids that contain calcium carbonate can cause too much calcium to accumulate in the body. High calcium levels can lead to kidney damage and other problems.

H-2 antagonists (cimetidine, ranitidine, famotidine, and nizati­dine) promote ulcer healing by reducing the acid and digestive en­zymes in the stomach and duodenum. These highly effective drugs are taken only once or twice a day. Most cause few serious side effects, and several are now available without a prescription.

Omeprazole and lansoprazole are very strong drugs that inhibit the production of the enzymes needed for the stomach to make acid. These drugs can completely inhibit acid secretion and have long-last­ing effects. They promote healing in a greater percentage of people in a shorter period of time than H-2 antagonists do. They are particu­larly useful in treating people with esophagitis and people who have other conditions that affect gastric acid secretion.

Antibiotics (bismuth subsalicylate, tetracycline, metronidazole, amoxicillin) are being increasingly used when the bacterium Helico­bacter pylori is the major underlying cause of ulcers. The treatment consists of one or more antibiotics and a drug to reduce or neutralize stomach acid. Combinations of bismuth subsalicylate, tetracycline, and metronidazole or amoxicillin are most commonly used. Omepra­zole and an antibiotic are also an effective combination. Such treat­ment may relieve ulcer symptoms even if ulcers have resisted previous treatment or have recurred repeatedly.