Health Dictionary Find a Doctor

Racecadotril

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Overview

Racecadotril is an antidiarrheal drug which acts as a peripherally acting enkephalinase inhibitor.[1] Unlike other medications used to treat diarrhea, which reduce intestinal motility, racecadotril has an antisecretory effect—it reduces the secretion of water and electrolytes into the intestine.[2] It is available in France (where it was first introduced in 1993 and is widely used) and other European countries, as well as most of South America and some South East Asian countries, but not in the United States. It is sold under the tradename Hidrasec.

A small randomized controlled trial found racecadotril to significantly reduce the duration and volume of watery diarrhea in children when given as an adjunct to oral rehydration therapy.[3]

Template:Pharma-stub

References

  1. Matheson AJ, Noble S. Racecadotril. Drugs. 2000 Apr;59(4):829-35. PMID 10804038
  2. (2001) “Racecadotril: an Antidiarrhoeal Suitable for Use in Infants and Young Children”. Drug Ther Perspect 17 (8): 1–5. Free full text with registration at Medscape
  3. Salazar-Lindo E, Santisteban-Ponce J, Chea-Woo E, Gutierrez M (2000). “Racecadotril in the treatment of acute watery diarrhea in children”. N. Engl. J. Med. 343 (7): 463–7. PMID 10944563.

See Also


Template:Antidiarrheals, intestinal anti-inflammatory/anti-infective agents


Template:WS

© 2026 MyEClinic – IFTM Institut für Telematik in der Medizin GmbH