Antidiarrhoeals (chronic)

Treatment of chronic diarrhoea:

• rule out the possibility of tumour
• review diet and fluid intake
• decide drug treatment - see relevant management section Irritable bowel syndrome:
• fibre, antispasmodics, loperamide, reassurance Diverticular disease:
• high-fibre diet, bulk-forming agents
• antispasmodics, antibiotics when infected Ulcerative colitis:
• topical or oral steroids
• sulphasalazine, mesalazine, azathioprine
• high-fibre diet, bulk-forming drugs, laxatives, diet Crohn's disease:
• colon Rx as for ulcerative colitis
• oral steroids, metronidazole, nutrition and supplements Malabsorbtion syndromes:
• specific management & general nutritional considerations
• coeliac disease usually needs a gluten-free diet
• pancreatic insufficiency needs pancreatin supplements Antibiotic associated/pseudomembranous colitis(C.difficile):
• vancomycin or metronidazole