Diphenoxylate


Generic Medicine Info
Indications and Dosage
Oral
Acute diarrhoea
Adult: Initial dose: 10 mg, followed by 5 mg every 6 hr.
Child: >12 yr: 5 mg tid; 9-12 yr: 2.5 mg 4 times daily; 4-8 yr: 2.5 mg tid.

Oral
Chronic diarrhoea
Adult: Initial dose: 10 mg followed by 5 mg every 6 hr. Discontinue use if no clinical improvement is noted after 10 days of continuous usage at 20 mg/day. Max: 20 mg/day.
Administration
May be taken with or without food.
Contraindications
Infants and children <4 yr. Jaundice, intestinal obstruction. Diarrhoea associated with pseudomembranous colitis or enterotoxin-producing bacteria.
Special Precautions
Hepatic dysfunction, inflammatory bowel disease. Pregnancy, lactation; young children.
Adverse Reactions
GI effects; headache, drowsiness, dizziness, restlessness, euphoria, depression, numbness of the extremities; hypersensitivity reactions, swelling of the gums.
PO: C (FDA Pregnancy Category C applies only in combination w/ atropine.)
Overdosage
Symptoms: Atropinism may persist for 2-3 hr (e.g. high fever, generalised flushing, and tachypnoea). Drowsiness, miosis, hypotonia, loss of tendon reflexes, nystagmus, and seizures followed by respiratory depression and total apnoea may manifest 12-30 hr after drug ingestion. Treatment: empty stomach by emesis or by gastric lavage. Gastric lavage may be effective even after several hr due to decreased GI motility and pylorospasm. Treatment is supportive and symptomatic and monitor closely for 48 hr. Naloxone may be useful in the treatment of severe respiratory depression.
Drug Interactions
Potentiates effects of other CNS depressants (alcohol, barbiturates) and some anxiolytics.
Potentially Fatal: Theoretical hypertensive crisis with MAOIs.
Action
Description:
Mechanism of Action: Diphenoxylate is a synthetic derivative of pethidine with little or no analgesic activity. It reduces intestinal motility and excessive GI propulsion by acting on the smooth muscle of the intestinal tract.
Onset: 45 min to 1 hr.
Duration: 3-4 hr.
Pharmacokinetics:
Absorption: Well absorbed from the GI tract.
Distribution: May distribute into breast milk.
Metabolism: Rapidly and extensively metabolised in the liver.
Excretion: Excreted mainly as metabolites and their conjugates in the faeces.
MIMS Class
Antidiarrheals
Disclaimer: This information is independently developed by MIMS based on Diphenoxylate from various references and is provided for your reference only. Therapeutic uses, prescribing information and product availability may vary between countries. Please refer to MIMS Product Monographs for specific and locally approved prescribing information. Although great effort has been made to ensure content accuracy, MIMS shall not be held responsible or liable for any claims or damages arising from the use or misuse of the information contained herein, its contents or omissions, or otherwise. Copyright © 2024 MIMS. All rights reserved. Powered by MIMS.com
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