Antidiarrheal Drugs

Question 1

Definition of Diarrhea

Answer 1

abnormally frequent discharge of fecal matter of increased volume and fluid content

Question 2

What are the causes of diarrhea? (4)

Answer 2

1. Maldigestion or malabsorption of food
2. Hypersecretion of intestinal fluid
3. Increased permeability of intestinal mucosal blood vessels
4. Increased intestinal motility

Question 3

What can cause Maldigestion or malabsorption of food?

Answer 3

sudden changes of food

Question 4

What is increased permeability of intestinal mucosal blood vessels caused by? (4)

Answer 4

1. Inflammation of small intestine wall
2. Parasitic caused inflammation
3. Toxins
4. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)

Question 5

What are antidiarrheals used to treat?

Answer 5

treat the symptom but not the primary cause of the diarrhea

Question 6

How do antidiarrheals modify intestinal motility?

Answer 6

slow movement of bowel contents

Question 7

What are the antidiarrheal drugs that modify gastric motility? (2)

Answer 7

1. opioid analgesics

2. anticholinergic dugs

Question 8

Why are antidiarrheal drugs that modify gastric motility not frequently used in animals?

Answer 8

a large portion of diarrheas in small animals involve decreased motility

Question 9

Antidiarrheals that act as adsorbents and/or protectants include? (3)

Answer 9

1. activated charcoal
2. kaolin and pectin
3. bismuth subsalicylate