Drugs Used in Diarrhoea

Diarrhea is one of the great killers of children in India. It is characterized by frequent text of liquid or semisolid stools and may be accompanied by abdominal (gripping) pain. When diarrhea is associated with abdominal pain and paragraph of blood and mucous due to infection or inflammation of the intestines, it is called dysentery. In dysentery there is an excessive loss of fluids and salts from the body. Diarrhea associated with vomiting, may cause to serious consequences passion dehydration, shock and death. Infants, children, and elderly debilitated persons are more susceptible to dehydration, and for this dialectics diarrhoea is a expanded serious botheration in them than in childlike adults.
Anti-motility Drugs in Diarrhoea
A number of drugs are used to target the increased intestine movements in diarrhoea. But overall utility of such drugs is limited and these are repeatedly misused.
Diphenoxylate (Lomotil)
Diphenoxylate is a narcotic related to the painkiller pethidine. It is available in combination with atropine, an anti-spasmodic drug which relieves gripping or colicky pain. The combination is sold under the commerce term LOMOTIL containing atropine 0.025 mg and diphenoxylate 2.5 mg.
Adverse Effects: Provided taken in larger doses over a extension of time, it may basis addiction. In children, LOMOTIL has been reported to cause memory of toxic substances in the intestines as a consequence of decreased mobility. The toxicity in children includes dryness of mouth, blurring of vision, urinary retention, distension of belly due to toxin stay (loss of bowel vitality causes retention of toxins which also reduces bowel movement leading to distension) blatant respiratory depression, coma, and even death. Some of these symptoms can appear much with near therapeutic doses. Ergo it is banned in children below the age of six years.
Loperamide
It has a poor penetration wrapped up the blood-brain barrier and therefore does not cause addiction and sedation in therapeutic doses. It is bounteous potent than diphenoxylate. These are never addicted whether diarrhoea is due to ulcerative colitis, diverticulitis or irritable bowel syndrome. The average daily man dose is 4 to 8 mg and should not exceed 16 mg. It is not recommended in children less then 2 years of age. Dose 2 to 5 years (13 to 20 kg) 1 mg; 6 to 8 years (20 to 30 kg) 2 mg twice a day.
Adverse Effects: Abdominal cramp and skin rashes are the leading side-effects of this drug. Corresponding precautions should be observed as for LOMOTIL.
Racecadotril (Redotril 100 mg)
This is a newer drug which reduces fluid secretion and its loss in stools. It is commodious in viral and watery diarrhoea in diabetics in a potion of 100 mg three times a day. It may cause nausea, thirst, giddiness and headache. It is safer than diphenoxylate and codeine. Codeine was the time tested drug but because of its addiction budding and availability of newer and safer agents, it is rarely used for its anti motility effects.
Isapgol (Sat Isabgol)
It is generally used in the treatment of constipation, but is also cogent in gentle diarrhoea.

Keywords: