Chronic Over-the-Counter (OTC) Gastrointestinal Medications useand Its impact on the Gastrointestinal Tract in Aging Populations
Abstract
Objective: To assess the long-term effects of chronic OTC gastrointestinal medication use on the gastrointestinal tract in aging populations and to evaluate associated risk factors.Methods
This study combines a comparative literature review with a multiple regression analysis. Data were analyzed to determine the association between chronic OTC medication use and adverse outcomes, including nutrient malabsorption, gut microbiota alterations, electrolyte imbalances, and gastrointestinal malignancies. The analysis controlled for potential confounders such as age, comorbidities, and polypharmacy.Results
Chronic use of OTC gastrointestinal medications was significantly associated with increased risks of nutrient deficiencies, dysbiosis, and electrolyte disturbances. Additionally, a potential association with increased risk of gastro intestinal malignancies was observed. Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that these associations remained significant after adjusting for confounding variables.Conclusion
Prolonged use of OTC gastrointestinal medications in older adults is associated with clinically relevant adverse effects. These findings highlight the need for cautious use, regular monitoring, and increased awareness among healthcare providers to minimize potential risks in aging populations.Keywords:
Aging, Gastrointestinal, Over-the Counter, Malabsorption, PolyPharmacy, Regression Analysis.Published
2026/06/03
Issue
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial 4.0 International License 
.
This is an open-access journal and all the published articles / items are distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution BY-NC 4.0 License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. For comments psimjournal@gmail.com