| Description: |
Loperamide HCl is an opioid-receptor agonist used as long-acting synthetic antidiarrheals.Loperamide is an effective therapy for a variety of diarrheal syndromes. Loperamide is generally well tolerated at recommended nonprescription doses, with the most common side effects related to the impact on bowel motility (abdominal pain, distention, bloating, nausea, vomiting, and constipation). Loperamide is an opioid-receptor agonist and acts on the μ-opioid receptors in the myenteric plexus of the large intestine; by itself it does not affect the central nervous system. It works similarly to morphine, by decreasing the activity of the myenteric plexus, which in turn decreases the tone of the longitudinal and circular smooth muscles of the intestinal wall. This increases the amount of time substances stay in the intestine, allowing for more water to be absorbed out of the fecal matter. Loperamide also decreases colonic mass movements and suppresses the gastrocolic reflex. |
