Loperamide in Treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome—A Double-Blind Placebo Controlled Study

Abstract

The effects of loperamide in patients with IBS (all had diarrhoea as a main symptom) were studied in a double-blind placebo controlled trial. Subjective overall response, stool consistency and six individual symptoms (urgency, pain, frequency, flatulence, borborygmi and painful propulsions) were studied over a 13 week long treatment period. Twenty-one patients out of 25 completed the trial, 11 in the loperamide group and 10 in the placebo group. A significant advantage for loperamide was found for stool consistency (p<0.001), pain (p<0.02) and urgency (p<0.05). Subjective overall response was also significantly better in the loperamide group (p<0.03).

Self-titration of dose and administration in a single nightly dose was safe and efficient.

Key Words:

• Colonic diseases
• functional diarrhoea
• loperamide