title: Clinical potential of eluxadoline in the treatment of diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome.
abstract: Diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) belongs to the group of functional gastrointestinal disorders and is characterized by abdominal pain in conjunction with diarrhea. The incidence of IBS-D is currently increasing, leading to a heavy economic burden for patients and health care systems worldwide. Recent studies suggest eluxadoline as an attractive new tool for the treatment of patients with IBS-D. Eluxadoline is an orally active μ- and κ-opioid receptor agonist and δ-opioid receptor antagonist, with powerful antidiarrheal and analgesic activity. Eluxadoline is believed to act locally in the enteric nervous system, and has no adverse effects in the central nervous system. In this review, we discuss the most recent findings on the mechanism of action of eluxadoline and the results of the clinical trials in patients with IBS-D. We also discuss possible side effects and analyze the potential of eluxadoline to be used in the treatment of IBS-D.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Aleksandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sobolewska-Włodarczyk
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Marcin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Włodarczyk
authors.affiliation: Center of Endoscopy, Starnberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Storr
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Jakub
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fichna
keywords: IBS; abdominal pain; constipation; discomfort; functional gastrointestinal disorders; health care