High-dose loperamide in the treatment of 5-fluorouracil-induced diarrhea in colorectal cancer patients

摘要: Thirty-seven colorectal cancer patients with grade 1–4 diarrhea (NCICTC) caused by chemotherapy 5-FU-containing regimens, received oral loperamide at the initial dose of 4 mg followed every 8 h (total 16 mg/24 h). Twenty-five (69%) were diarrhea-free and considered to be treatment responders. Eight-four percent 1 or 2 achieved a response, but only 52% those 3–4 diarrhea. These data seem suggest that high-dose is effective in moderate can regarded as choice. The more severe did not respond so well, should, perhaps, given first-line drugs, such somatostatin analogues (e.g., octreotide).