A randomized, open-label comparison of nonprescription loperamide and attapulgite in the symptomatic treatment of acute diarrhea.
The efficacy of nonprescription doses of loperamide hydrochloride (Imodium A-D) was compared with nonfibrous activated attapulgite (Diasorb) in a randomized, parallel, open-label study of adult patients with acute diarrhea. The results of the study showed loperamide to be more effective than attapulgite in the control of diarrhea. Loperamide significantly reduced stool frequency compared with attapulgite, particularly within the first 12-hour period following the start of therapy, and significantly shortened the mean time to last unformed stool (loperamide, 14.2 hours, versus attapulgite, 19.5 hours). Subjective evaluations of severity of enteric symptoms, overall relief following treatment, and overall relief after 48 hours of treatment were equivalent for both drugs. Both treatments were well tolerated, and there was no difference between treatments with respect to the proportion of patients reporting adverse experiences.
Program in Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston 77030.
H L
HL
DuPont
C D
CD
Ericsson
M W
MW
DuPont
A
A
Cruz Luna
J J
JJ
Mathewson
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008139:Loperamide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008274:Magnesium / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017616:Magnesium Compounds; D008297:Male; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010880:Piperidines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012825:Silicon / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017655:Silicon Compounds
D017616:Magnesium Compounds; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs; D010880:Piperidines; D017655:Silicon Compounds; D008139:Loperamide; D008274:Magnesium; C026325:attapulgite; D012825:Silicon