antidiarrhoeals(acute)
Last reviewed 01/2018
Acute diarrhoea/gastro-enteritis:
- initially treat with water/clear fluids only
- rehydration preparations are used to treat fluid &
- electrolyte loss, esp in infants & the frail & elderly
- if severe dehydration develops, admit
- antimotility drugs are occasionally used for convenience but work against nature and often cause constipation
- antibiotics are indicated only for systemic bacterial enteritis as campylobacter, salmonella and shigella
- antispasmodics are occasionally used for cramps Young children: avoid antispasmodics, antiemetics and antimotility drugs as they have troublesome side-effects Bulk-formers (ispaghula, methylcellulose, sterculia)
- may control faecal consistency in ileostomy & colostomy
- may control diarrhoea from diverticular disease Kaolin adsorbent is not recommended for acute diarrhoea.