Loperamide in patients with radiotherapy-induced diarrhoea.
63 patients (23--78 years) with irradiation-induced diarrhoea, the majority of them resistant to treatment with diphenoxylate, were started on 4-(p-chlorophenyl)-4-hydroxy-N,N'-dimethyl-alpha,alpha-diphenyl-1-piperidine butyramide (loperidine, Imodium) 4 mg daily. Doses were further adapted individually and the trial lasted for 3--72 days. Daily frequency and consistency of stools improved significantly, and abdominal cramps were clearly reduced. Stools became normal in 41 patients after a median time of 16.5 days (median daily dose: 4 mg), they improved in six other patients, but remained unchanged in eight and deteriorated in one patient. The remaining seven cases were not evaluated. No side-effects could be attributed to the drug.
D000008:Abdominal Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008139:Loperamide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010880:Piperidines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*
D010880:Piperidines; D008139:Loperamide