Diarrhea may be drug-induced. This may be associated with a drug's intended action, or a side effect that may limit therapy.
Causes for drug-induced diarrhea include:
(1) increased gastrointestinal motility
(2) secretory
(3) malabsorption
(4) inflammatory
(4a) microscopic colitis
(4b) celiac disease like
(4c) colitis
(4d) other
(5) allergy (to drug or additive such as lactose)
(6) osmotic
(7) unknown
Some causes (motility, osmotic) are short-lived and depend on direct action of the drug. Inflammatory mechanisms may take some time to resolve.
To read more or access our algorithms and calculators, please log in or register.
Specialty: Gastroenterology, Pharmacology, clinical
