Racecadotril versus placebo in the treatment of acute diarrhoea in adults

Methods A two-centre, double-blind, parallel-group, randomized study was ca rried out to compare the efficacy and tolerability of racecadotril (100 mg three times daily) and placebo in 70 adult patients with acute diarrhoea. A n objective criterion of antisecretory activity, stool weight, was used. Results Racecadotril produced a significant (P = 0.025) decrease in stool w eight during the first day of treatment compared with placebo, and was also associated with significantly fewer diarrhoeic stools than placebo after 1 day of treatment (P = 0.027). Racecadotril and placebo were equally well t olerated, and the frequency of symptoms and signs was similar in both group s after 4 days of treatment. Fewer patients on racecadotril suffered from a bdominal distension following treatment (5.6% vs. 18.2% on placebo). Conclusions Racecadotril acts rapidly to resolve acute diarrhoea and has an incidence of adverse events similar to that of placebo.