Assignment Task

Case:

You are working in a remote community health clinic. John is a 65-year-old male who comes to your clinic complaining of stomach pain, especially after eating. He thinks he might have a stomach ulcer. He also states that he is always feeling tired, sometimes gets dizzy and he finds it difficult to breathe. John also tells you that he is often constipated.

On further questioning John tells you that he suffers from osteoarthritis in his knees and in addition, he was in a car accident several years ago and suffers from chronic back pain. John regularly smokes cigarettes and is a regular heavy drinker of alcohol.

John tells you that he takes the following medications consistently for his medical conditions:

Aspirin 300 mg every 4-6 hours as required.

Morphine 30 mg twice daily as required

John has also been drinking at least 6 –8 heavy strength beers every night as he claims it helps with his pain.

You consider that John’s symptoms could be related to several new medical conditions however, they have been ruled out. 

Even though John is taking his medications within recommended dosage guidelines, you now suspect that John’s symptoms could be related to his medications and alcohol intake.

Questions:

Q1. Detail the pharmacological mechanism of action (MOA) of aspirin and morphine. The MOA needs to be explained in depth at the receptor and cellular level and needs to include how the MOA results in a therapeutic effect. Also, explain how this mechanism affects the action potential of the cell.

Q2. Look at Johns presenting complaints. Explain which medication could be responsible for each of John’s complaints and why. You will need to explain in depth, at the receptor and cellular level, the mechanism of action of the medication and how it could cause the symptom that John is experiencing.,

Q3. A) What is the mechanism of actions (MOAs) of alcohol? You need to describe these MOA’s in detail at the receptor and cellular level.

B) Describe any interactions between John’s medications and any other substances that John consumes? Explain pharmacologically how these substances interact with John’s medicines at the receptor and cellular level and what could be the consequences of these interactions.

Q4. A) Based on your answer to Q2, What immediate actions would you recommend to John in order to prevent further complications with his ulcer?

B) John goes to the doctor to treat his ulcer. Using your knowledge of pharmacology, what recommendations might the doctor make regarding managing the side effects that John has experienced due to interactions with his pain medications?