Lecture Notes: Antidiarrheals

Overview

• Antidiarrheals are medications that treat diarrhea by increasing the absorption of fluids and electrolytes in the intestines.
• Common antidiarrheals include loperamide and diphenoxalate atropine.
• These drugs are synthetic opiates that bind to opiate receptors in the gut.
• They utilize the side effect of constipation from opioids to slow down bowel movements and treat diarrhea.

Key Antidiarrheal Drugs

Loperamide

• Brand Name: Imodium
• Mnemonic: "Loafer for loperamide"
  • Imagery of cleaning diarrhea off a loafer to remember loperamide.
• Used to treat diarrhea by reducing the frequency and liquidity of stool.

Diphenoxalate Atropine

• Brand Name: Lamotyl
• Mnemonic: "Dolphin socks for diphenoxalate" and "Tropics for atropine"
  • Imagery of tropical dolphin socks to remember diphenoxalate atropine.
• Combination drug used to treat diarrhea.

Important Characteristics

• Opioid Nature:
  • Both loperamide and diphenoxalate atropine bind to opiate receptors.
  • Although they are synthetic opiates, they are not controlled substances due to quick metabolism and low abuse potential.

Considerations

• Antidiarrheals reduce stool frequency and liquidity but do not address the underlying cause of diarrhea.
• If diarrhea is due to a bacterial infection, antibiotics are necessary for treatment.

Recap

• Antidiarrheals: Loperamide and Diphenoxalate Atropine.
• Main function: Treat diarrhea by reducing stool frequency and liquidity.