Skip to main content

Chemo-induced Diarrhea

Management of chemotherapy-induced diarrhea

  • Often cancer patients on chemotherapy treatment experience diarrhea. 
    Diarrhea is frequent liquid-like loose stools. Imodium (Loperamide) can be used to manage diarrhea.
  • Diarrhea, chronic - Irritable bowel syndrome
    • initial; 4 mg ORALLY followed by 2 mg after each loose stool up to a maximum of 16 mg/day 
    • maintenance; Average daily dosage 4 mg to 8 mg ORALLY up to a maximum of 16 mg/day, may be taken as a single dose or in divided doses 
  • Diarrhea, acute
    • 4 mg ORALLY followed by 2 mg after each loose stool up to a maximum of 16 mg/day
Reference: Product Information: IMODIUM(R) oral capsules, Janssen Pharmaceutica Inc, Titusville, NJ, 2005.


 Contraindications

  • pseudomembranous colitis, associated with the use of broad spectrum antibiotics; do not use as primary therapy
  • bacterial enterocolitis, caused by invasive organisms including Salmonella, Shigella, and Campylobacter; do not use as primary therapy 
  • dysentery, acute; do not use as primary therapy
  • hypersensitivity to loperamide or to any of the excipients 
  • infants below 24 months of age 
  • ulcerative colitis, acute; do not use as primary therapy 

    • Monitoring

  • Improvement in stool frequency and consistency 
  • periodic fluid and electrolyte status during long term therapy
  • abdominal pain, nausea or constipation
  • CNS toxicity in patients with hepatic impairment

    • Comments

    Post a Comment

    Popular posts from this blog

    Mounjaro, Is it a game changer for weight loss and diabetes?

      MOUNJARO™ ( Tirzepatide) was approved for medical use in the United States in May 2022 WEIGHT LOSS: (Not approved by FDA for weight loss) Eli Lilly and Company is  finalizing an application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for fast-track approval to sell tirzepatide for chronic weight management. MOUNJARO™ is a glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptor and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist indicated in adults for type 2 diabetes mellitus management. CONTRAINDICATIONS Personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or in patients with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2  Known serious all to tirzepatide or any of the excipients in MOUNJARO                                                                    ...
    Post a Comment
    Read more

    Thyroid health- Quality of Life

      Let's get a TSH blood test for our family and friends Normal serum TSH ranges are higher in the  people age 70 to 80 years ; based on this, higher serum TSH goals may be needed as a patient ages.  The American Thyroid Association (ATA) suggests raising the target serum TSH to 4-6 m IU/L for 70 years-old and up The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped hormone-producing gland located at the front of the neck. The thyroid gland secretes two main hormones:  thyroxine (T-4) and triiodothyronine (T-3).   These hormones regulate energy levels, metabolism of fats, proteins and carbohydrates, body temperature, heart rate.  Hypothyroidism happens when the underactive thyroid gland doesn't make enough hormones. Hypothyroidism affects up to 10% of the general population (5% undiagnosed) . A n autoimmune disease called Hashimoto's diseas e where our body  makes antibodies that attack healthy thyroid tissues  is the most common cause of hypothyroidism in soc...
    Post a Comment
    Read more

    Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) ---cough

    Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a leading cause of severe lower respiratory tract disease in young children. Recent RSV strain in Utah is  causing moderate to severe cough (especially during night), weakness and cold-like symptoms .  RSV infection is sometimes severe and is associated with hospitalization, mechanical ventilation, long-term complications, decreased quality of life, loss of work productivity and patient/caregiver stress.  RSV may cause inflammation and infection of small airways and lungs.  Recovery time usually ranges from 7 to 14 days, but RSV can cause serious disease. RSV combined with increasing flu circulation are keeping some hospitals and pharmacies occupied.  Seventeen states are reporting that more than 80% of beds are full, according to the data. Children’s hospitals in Utah, Arizona, the District of Columbia, Maine, Minnesota, Rhode Island, and Kentucky are almost completely at capacity. RSV can spread when viral droplets from a ...
    Post a Comment
    Read more