Abstract

Loperamide (R 18 553) was compared with placebo in a double-blind crossover study of 21 patients with chronic diarrhoea caused by ileocolic disease or resection. Eighteen patients completed the trial. At a median daily dose of 6 mg the new antidiarrhoeal preparation was found to be superior to placebo in controlling chronic diarrhoea. The frequency and weight of stools significantly decreased, the stools became more solid, and carmine transit time was prolonged during loperamide therapy. Loperamide was consistently preferred to placebo by the patients. Gastrointestinal side-effects were few and comparable during both treatment periods.