Failure to demonstrate effectiveness of an anticholinergic drug in the symptomatic treatment of acute travelers' diarrhea.

Abstract

Seventy adults in the United States with acute diarrhea who were attending classes in Guadalajara, Mexico, enrolled in a double-blind placebo-controlled treatment study of an anticholinergic drug, mepenzolate bromide (MZB). Thirty-five patients received MZB (50 mg) and 35 received placebo each taken 4 times daily for 48 hours. No significant difference was detected between the MZB- and placebo-treated patients in symptoms or in the frequency or character of stools. Recovery rates of 24.1% and 31% for placebo- and MZB-treated patients were similar. Despite the occurrence of anticholinergic side effects in 51% of MZB- versus 14% of placebo-treated patients (P less than 0.001), therapeutic efficacy was not detected. We do not recommend anticholinergic drugs for therapy in acute infectious diarrhea.

• Authors: R Reves, P Bass, H L DuPont, P Sullivan, J Mendiola
• Journal: Journal of clinical gastroenterology (J Clin Gastroenterol) Vol. 5 Issue 3 Pg. 223-7 (Jun 1983) ISSN: 0192-0790 [Print] United States
• PMID: 6345649 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Controlled Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Benzilates
• Parasympatholytics
• Piperidines
• mepenzolic acid

Topics

• Acute Disease
• Adolescent
• Adult
• Benzilates (therapeutic use)
• Clinical Trials as Topic
• Diarrhea (drug therapy)
• Double-Blind Method
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Parasympatholytics (therapeutic use)
• Piperidines (therapeutic use)
• Travel