Anti-diarrhoeal agents

Gastrointestinal agents.

Loperamide

μ-receptor agonist

• Can not pass the blood-brain barrier (low abuse potential due to lack of central opioid effects)

• Inhibits propulsive peristalsis, increases sphincter tone, and inhibits intestinal fluid secretion

• Adverse effects include constipation, vomiting, and nausea.

• Pediatric patients <2 years of age. 

• Known hypersensitivity to loperamide or any ingredient in the formulation. 

• Abdominal pain in the absence of diarrhea. 

• Acute dysentery (characterized by blood in stools and high fever), acute ulcerative colitis, bacterial enterocolitis caused by invasive organisms (e.g., Salmonella, Shigella, Campylobacter), or pseudomembranous colitis associated with anti-infective therapy.

Nausea, constipation, abdominal cramps, dizziness. 

• Slows intestinal motility and affects water and electrolyte movement through the bowel.  Inhibits peristaltic activity by a direct effect on circular and longitudinal muscles of the intestinal wall. 

• Prolongs the transit time of intestinal contents; [ref] reduces fecal volume, increases fecal viscosity and bulk density, and diminishes loss of fluid and electrolytes.