Background Schizophrenia is a disorder that affects about 1% of the US population, with an extensive impact on patients’ health and their risk of later developing comorbidities from treatment. While literature on the side effect profile of antipsychotics is abundant, there are few studies on identification of anticholinergic effects on gut motility and prophylaxis development. The aim of this review is to consider antipsychotic-associated constipation in patients with schizophrenia and to discuss management of antipsychotic-induced constipation as documented in the literature. Main body We present a case of antipsychotic-induced constipation and conducted a literature review assessing the prevalence of this issue in this population. The search was done on Embase, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, and PubMed databases. Key word searches included constipation with concurrent antipsychotic use, antipsychotics and anticholinergic effects, factors causing constipation in schizophrenia, social disparities involved with constipation, and colorectal cancer screenings. Main findings included high complication rates that may be explained by clozapine-specific side effects, negative health habits, disease, and treatment-related metabolic disorders. Co-existing negative symptoms could also be associated with health outcomes and was found to have adverse consequences on schizophrenia progression. Comorbidities of diabetes and cardiovascular complications contributed to gut hypomotility. Caregiver burden was a factor in delayed recognition of constipation as a side effect. Routine surveillance for symptoms and optimization of medications facilitates early recognition of constipation. Conclusion Overall, there is insufficient trial-based evidence to compare the effectiveness and safety of common pharmacological interventions for constipation, such as lactulose, polyethylene glycol, stool softeners, and lubricant laxatives.

Bariatric procedures for weight loss have increased in the past few decades. Levothyroxine malabsorption has been reported following gastric bypass; however, few studies have addressed this issue after gastric sleeve procedures. Levothyroxine dosing is usually weight based and administered at approximately 1.6 μg/kg body weight. Absorption occurs mainly in the jejunum and upper ileum, which can be altered by gastric pH, other drugs, food, and other factors. We present a 35-year-old woman with longstanding iatrogenic hypothyroidism treated with thyroxine, whose thyroid-stimulating hormone level rose following a gastric sleeve procedure despite taking levothyroxine daily.

Vitamin D deficiency is common in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism. We present a case of primary hyperparathyroidism with a positive parathyroid scan and history of nephrolithiasis. The patient had normal albumin and renal function but was vitamin D deficient. After treatment with vitamin D for 13 months, her parathyroid hormone values declined in parallel with the elevation in vitamin D. Although her total calcium normalized, her ionized calcium remained elevated throughout treatment. We believe vitamin D deficiency should be carefully monitored in primary hyperparathyroidism.