Antidiarrhoeal

Overview

An antidiarrhoeal drug is any medication which provides symptomatic relief for diarrhoea.

Types

• Electrolyte solutions are used to replace lost fluids and salts in acute cases.
• Bulking agents like methylcellulose, guar gum or plant fibre (bran, sterculia, ispaghul, etc.) are used for diarrhoea in functional bowel disease and to control ileostomy output.
• Absorbents absorb toxic substances that cause infective diarrhoea, methylcellulose is an absorbent as well.
• Opiates slow intestinal transit, but Loperamide is most commonly used, since it doesn't have the usual narcotic side effects.

See also

• ATC_code_A07#A07F_Antidiarrheal_micro-organisms