antidiarrhoeals(chronic)
Last reviewed 01/2018
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