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Racecadotril Oral – Uses, Dosage, Side Effects

Racecadotril Oral/Racecadotril has been investigated for the basic science and treatment of Diarrhea, Acute Diarrhea, and Acute Gastroenteritis. Racecadotril, also known as acetorphan, is an antidiarrheal drug that acts as a peripheral enkephalinase inhibitor.^[rx] Unlike other opioid medications used to treat diarrhea, which reduces intestinal motility, racecadotril has an antisecretory effect — it reduces the secretion of water and electrolytes into the intestine.^[rx]

Mechanism of Action of Racecadotril Oral

Enkephalins are peptides produced by the body that act on opioid receptors with a preference for the δ subtype. Activation of δ receptors inhibits the enzyme adenylyl cyclase, increasing intracellular levels of the messenger molecule cAMP.^[rx]

The active metabolite of racecadotril, thiorphan, inhibits enkephalinase enzymes in the intestinal epithelium with an IC₅₀ of 6.1 nM, protecting enkephalins from being broken down by these enzymes. (Racecadotril itself is much less potent at 4500 nM.)^[rx]^[rx] This reduces diarrhea-related hypersecretion in the small intestine without influencing basal secretion. Racecadotril also has no influence on the time substances, bacteria or virus particles stay in the intestine.^[rx]

Indications of Racecadotril Oral

Compounds that inhibit or antagonize biosynthesis or actions of proteases (ENDOPEPTIDASES).
Antidiarrheals – Miscellaneous agents found useful in the symptomatic treatment of diarrhea. They have no effect on the agent(s) that cause diarrhea but merely alleviate the condition.

Contraindications of Racecadotril Oral

Racecadotril has no contraindications apart from known hypersensitivity to the substance.

There is insufficient data for the therapy of chronic diarrhea, for patients with renal or hepatic failure, and for children under three months. Additional contraindications for the children’s formulation are hereditary fructose intolerance, glucose-galactose malabsorption and saccharase deficiency, as it contains sugar.

Side Effects of Racecadotril Oral

The most common adverse effect is headache, which occurs in 1–2% of patients. Rashes occur in fewer than 1% of patients. Other described skin reactions include itching, urticaria, angioedema, erythema multiforme, and erythema nodosum.

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