title: [Medication-related diarrhea].
abstract: Numerous medications can trigger diarrhea. In some cases it is a common side effect, and the relationship is evident (e.g. acarbose, somatostatin analogs and antibiotics). When diarrhea does occur, the therapeutic benefit of the drug should be weighed against the negative results of the side effect. If pseudomembranous colitis is suspected, prompt action is required, since a fatal outcome cannot be excluded. A particular challenge is a suspected drug association in a multimorbid patient taking several drugs, each associated with an only low diarrhea risk. In such a case, it may be necessary to discontinue drugs consecutively, or to replace a drug by another, until the diarrhea ceases, without lessening the effectiveness of the treatment.
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Poliklinik, Universität Würzburg. Scheurlen_M@klinik.uni-wuerzburg.de
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Scheurlen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D004077:Digoxin / Q000009:adverse effects; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D004761:Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility / Q000187:drug effects; D006728:Hormones / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D011860:Radiography, Abdominal; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D006728:Hormones; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D004077:Digoxin