Antidiarrhoeal

An antidiarrhoeal drug is any medication which provides symptomatic relief for diarrhoea.

[edit] Types

Electrolyte solutions are used to replace lost fluids and salts in acute cases.
Bulking agents like methylcellulose, guar gum or plant fibre (bran, sterculia, ispaghul, etc.) are used for diarrhoea in functional bowel disease and to control ileostomy output.
Absorbents absorb toxic substances that cause infective diarrhoea, methylcellulose is an absorbent as well.
Opiates slow intestinal transit, but Loperamide is most commonly used, since it doesn't have the usual narcotic side effects.

v • d • e Major drug groups

Gastrointestinal tract (A)	Antacids • Antiemetics • H₂ antagonists • Proton pump inhibitors • Laxatives • Antidiarrhoeals

Blood and blood forming organs (B)	Anticoagulants • Antihemorrhagics • Antiplatelets • Thrombolytics

Cardiovascular system (C)	Antiarrhythmics • Antihypertensives • Diuretics • Vasodilators • Antianginals • Beta blockers • Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors • Antihyperlipidemics

Skin (D)	Emollients - Antipruritics

Reproductive system (G)	Hormonal contraception • Fertility agents • Selective estrogen receptor modulators • Sex hormones

Endocrine system (H)	Anti-diabetics • Corticosteroids • Sex hormones • Thyroid hormones

Infections and infestations (J, P)	Antibiotics • Antivirals • Vaccines • Antifungals • Antiparasitic (Antiprotozoals, Anthelmintics)

Malignant and immune disease (L)	Anticancer agents • Immunostimulators • Immunosuppressants

Muscles, bones, and joints (M)	Anabolic steroids • Anti-inflammatories • Antirheumatics • Corticosteroids • Muscle relaxants

Brain and nervous system (N)	Anesthetics • Analgesics • Anticonvulsants • Mood stabilizers • Anxiolytics • Antipsychotics • Antidepressants • Nervous system stimulants • Sedatives

Respiratory system (R)	Bronchodilators • Decongestants • H₁ antagonists

v • d • e Antidiarrheals, intestinal anti-inflammatory/anti-infective agents (A07)

Intestinal anti-infectives	Antibiotics (Neomycin, Nystatin, Natamycin, Streptomycin, Polymyxin B, Paromomycin, Amphotericin B, Kanamycin, Vancomycin, Colistin, Rifaximin) Sulfonamides (Phthalylsulfathiazole, Sulfaguanidine, Succinylsulfathiazole) other (Miconazole, Broxyquinoline, Acetarsol, Nifuroxazide, Nifurzide)

Intestinal adsorbents	Charcoal - Bismuth - Pectin - Kaolin - Crospovidone - Attapulgite - Diosmectite

Antipropulsives	Diphenoxylate - Opium - Loperamide - Difenoxin - Paregoric - Laudanum - Codeine - Morphine

Intestinal anti-inflammatory agents	corticosteroids acting locally (Prednisolone, Hydrocortisone, Prednisone, Betamethasone, Tixocortol, Budesonide, Beclometasone) antiallergic agents, excluding corticosteroids (Cromoglicic acid) aminosalicylic acid and similar agents (Sulfasalazine, Mesalazine, Olsalazine, Balsalazide)

Antidiarrheal micro-organisms	Saccharomyces boulardii

Other antidiarrheals	Albumin tannate - Ceratonia - Racecadotril