Drug of Choice (DOC) Challenge – Gastrointestinal Drugs

A Smart Revision Guide for Competitive Exams

Gastrointestinal (GI) disorders are high-yield topics in pharmacy, medical, and nursing competitive exams. Questions are often asked in the form of “Drug of Choice”, testing not only your memory but also your clinical understanding.

In this DOC Challenge on Gastrointestinal Drugs, we’ll cover the most commonly asked GI conditions(Pharmacology MCQ Based ) along with their first-line treatment, explained in a simple and exam-oriented manner.

🔥 Why Drug of Choice Questions Matter?

• Frequently asked in GPAT, NIPER, NEET-PG, AIIMS, Nursing & Paramedical exams

• Tests clinical decision-making

• Easy scoring area if revised properly

• Commonly asked in MCQs, rapid-fire rounds & viva

📌 Drug of Choice – Gastrointestinal Disorders

1️⃣ Peptic Ulcer Disease (H. pylori Positive)

Drug of Choice:
👉 Triple Therapy

• Proton Pump Inhibitor (Omeprazole / Pantoprazole)

• Clarithromycin

• Amoxicillin / Metronidazole

🔑 Exam Tip: PPI is always the backbone of therapy.

2️⃣ Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)

Drug of Choice:
👉 Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs)
(Pantoprazole, Omeprazole)

📌 PPIs are preferred over H2 blockers for chronic GERD.

3️⃣ Acute Diarrhea (Non-infectious)

Drug of Choice:
👉 Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS)

⚠️ Key Point: Antidiarrheals are NOT first-line in acute cases.

4️⃣ Traveler’s Diarrhea

Drug of Choice:
👉 Ciprofloxacin / Azithromycin

📝 Often asked as a clinical scenario-based MCQ.

5️⃣ Amoebic Dysentery

Drug of Choice:
👉 Metronidazole

📚 Remember: Follow with a luminal amoebicide like Diloxanide furoate.

6️⃣ Ulcerative Colitis (Mild to Moderate)

Drug of Choice:
👉 5-Aminosalicylic Acid (Mesalamine)

📌 Severe cases → Corticosteroids.

7️⃣ Crohn’s Disease

Drug of Choice:
👉 Corticosteroids (for acute flare)
👉 Immunosuppressants / Biologics (maintenance)

8️⃣ Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Drug of Choice:
👉 Dicycloverine (Antispasmodic)

• Dietary modification

💡 IBS is functional → no structural abnormality.

9️⃣ Constipation

Drug of Choice:
👉 Bulk-forming laxatives (Psyllium husk)

⚠️ Avoid stimulant laxatives for long-term use.

🔟 Acute Vomiting

Drug of Choice:
👉 Ondansetron

🎯 Very common DOC question in exams.

🧪 Quick Revision Table

🚀 How to Master DOC Questions?

✔️ Focus on first-line treatment
✔️ Understand why that drug is preferred
✔️ Practice clinical scenario MCQs
✔️ Revise regularly using DOC challenge format