💊 Why Medication Optimisation Matters

Medications can significantly influence stoma ipouch and fistula behaviour, hydration, digestion, pain levels and overall wellbeing. For people living with a stoma, fistula or ileoanal pouch, and especially those undergoing cancer treatments, even small adjustments in medication can make a meaningful difference.

Our Medication Optimisation Clinic provides safe, evidence‑based review and guidance, helping you understand how your medicines interact with your anatomy, symptoms and treatment plan. We support you in making informed decisions, always within clinical guidelines.

💊 How Medications Affect This Patient Group

🔴Cancer Treatment Considerations

Cancer therapies can affect:

• Appetite

• Hydration & Digestion

• Nausea and vomiting

• Diarrhoea or constipation

• Pain levels

• Medication tolerance

• Stoma, fistula or ipouch function

🔴Stoma‑Specific Considerations

• Some medicines may increase or decrease stoma output

• Certain formulations may not fully absorb in stoma patients

• Hydration can be affected by medication side effects

• Pain medicines may influence bowel motility

🔴iPouch‑Specific Considerations

• Medicines may affect stool frequency or urgency

• Some treatments can trigger pouch sensitivity

• Hydration needs may change

🔴Fistula‑Specific Considerations

• Medicines may influence fistula output

• Skin integrity can be affected by diarrhoea or leakage

• Pain management may require careful adjustment

• Some treatments may impact infection risk

Our clinic helps you understand these interactions and supports you in managing symptoms safely.

💊 Who We Support

✔️ People With a Stoma

Including ileostomy, colostomy, urostomy, jejunostomy, loop or end stomas, high‑output stomas and parastomal hernia concerns.

✔️ People With an iPouch

Including J‑pouch, S‑pouch, W‑pouch, K-pouch, pouchitis history and hydration challenges.

✔️ People With Fistulae

Including enterocutaneous and anal fistulae, high‑output fistulae and seton management.

✔️ People With Digestive or Urological Conditions

Including IBD, strictures, bowel cancer, urinary cancer and post‑operative recovery.

✔️ People Undergoing Cancer Treatments

Including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy and targeted therapies.

💊 What We Offer

1️⃣ Comprehensive Medication Review

We assess:

• Current medications and their effects on stoma/pouch/fistula behaviour

• Hydration and digestion

• Cancer treatment side effects

• Pain levels

• Symptom patterns

• Medication interactions

This helps identify whether adjustments may improve comfort or symptom control.

2️⃣ Safe, Evidence‑Based Optimisation

We provide:

• Guidance on medication timing

• Advice on formulation suitability (e.g., liquid vs tablet)

• Strategies to support hydration and digestion

• Information on how medicines may affect output or frequency

• Recommendations to discuss with your prescribing clinician

3️⃣ Support During Cancer Treatment

Including:

• Managing nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea

• Supporting hydration

• Understanding how cancer therapies may affect stoma or ipouch behaviour

• Coordinating with oncology teams

💊 Why Choose Our Medication Optimisation Clinic?

• Specialist nurses experienced in complex digestive, urological and cancer‑related conditions

• Integrated multidisciplinary care

• Tailored, practical advice, safe, evidence‑based care

• No commercial promotion or product advertising

• Specialist nurses experienced in complex digestive and urological conditions

• Clear referral pathways when medical or surgical input is required

• Enhanced comfort, confidence, and quality of life

• Compassionate, patient‑centred care