Antimotility agent
Antimotility agent
Antimotility agents (pronunciation: an-ti-mo-til-i-ty a-gents) are a type of medication used to alleviate the symptoms of diarrhea.
Etymology
The term "antimotility" is derived from the prefix "anti-", meaning against, and "motility", which refers to the ability of an organism or fluid to move. In this context, antimotility agents work against the movement of the gastrointestinal tract.
Usage
Antimotility agents are primarily used to treat acute and chronic diarrhea. They work by slowing down the movement of the gut. This reduces the speed at which the contents of the gut pass through, and so more water is absorbed back into the body. This results in firmer stools that are passed less frequently.
Examples
Common examples of antimotility agents include loperamide (Imodium) and diphenoxylate (Lomotil). These medications are available over-the-counter and can be used to treat sudden bouts of diarrhea.
Side Effects
Like all medications, antimotility agents can cause side effects. These may include drowsiness, dizziness, and constipation. If these side effects persist or worsen, it is recommended to consult a healthcare professional.
Related Terms
- Antidiarrheal: A type of medication used to treat diarrhea. Antimotility agents are a type of antidiarrheal.
- Gastrointestinal tract: The series of organs in the digestive system through which food passes, nutrients are extracted, and waste is eliminated.
- Loperamide: A medication used to decrease the frequency of diarrhea.
- Diphenoxylate: A medication used to treat diarrhea, often combined with atropine to prevent abuse.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Antimotility agent
- Wikipedia's article - Antimotility agent
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski