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A person you are caring for has a known GI bleed. What drug is contraindicated?

1 Answer

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Final answer:

For a person with a known GI bleed, aspirin and anticoagulants such as Warfarin (Coumadin) are contraindicated due to the risk of exacerbating bleeding. Pharmacogenomics could assist in personalizing treatment plans to prevent overdose and complications.

Step-by-step explanation:

For a person with a known GI bleed, drugs that inhibit platelet function or coagulation are contraindicated. In this case, aspirin and anticoagulants like Warfarin (Coumadin), Rivaroxaban (Xarelto), Dabigatran (Pradaxa), Apixaban (Eliquis), and Heparin are contraindicated. These medications can exacerbate bleeding tendencies or interfere with blood clotting, which could be harmful in a patient with an active gastrointestinal bleed.

Aspirin is particularly problematic as it can cause increased bleeding time due to its effects on platelets and the inhibition of thromboxane A2, a potent aggregating agent. While Warfarin is commonly used to prevent clotting in patients at risk for stroke or heart attack, in a patient with a GI bleed, its use could lead to an overdose and further bleeding complications, especially in individuals with varying liver function that affects drug metabolism.

Pharmacogenomics could be particularly helpful for patients on drugs like Coumadin by allowing for personalized medication plans based on genetic profiles, which can predict how individuals will metabolize certain drugs and adjust dosages accordingly to avoid overdose.

User Joel Auterson
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