Racecadotril
About Racecadotril
Racecadotril is an oral prescription medication used to treat symptoms of sudden, short-term diarrhoea in adults. It works by reducing the excess secretion of water into your intestines, helping to firm up your stools and decrease the frequency of bathroom visits. This treatment is intended to address the symptoms of acute diarrhoea while you recover.
This medicine is typically taken three times a day, or as prescribed by your doctor, and should be used consistently until your bowel movements return to normal. You can take Racecadotril with or without food, though taking it at regular intervals helps maintain its efficacy. Alongside this medication, drinking plenty of fluids and oral rehydration solutions is essential to prevent dehydration.
Most people tolerate this medication very well, but some may experience mild side effects like headaches or skin rashes. If you experience severe reactions, such as swelling of your face, lips, or throat, stop taking the medicine and consult a doctor immediately.
Talk to your doctor before using Racecadotril if you have a history of kidney disease or liver damage, or if your diarrhoea is accompanied by a high fever, blood, or pus in your stools. Do not take this if you have a known allergy to any of its ingredients or if you are experiencing chronic diarrhoea.
Please inform your doctor about other medicines you are taking, especially blood pressure medications like ACE inhibitors, as combining them may increase the risk of allergic swelling. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or managing health conditions in an elderly patient, consult your healthcare provider before starting treatment.
Uses of Racecadotril
• Treatment of Acute Diarrhea: Racecadotril helps manage sudden diarrhea that lasts for less than two weeks by reducing fluid loss from the intestines.
• Supportive Therapy: Racecadotril is often used alongside oral rehydration solutions (ORS) to ensure adequate fluid and electrolyte replacement during diarrhea.
• Reduction of Gastrointestinal Secretions: Racecadotril works by decreasing water and electrolyte secretion in the intestines, aiding in controlling diarrhea.
Medicinal Benefits
Racecadotril helps manage acute diarrhoea by reducing excessive fluid and electrolyte secretion in the intestines, allowing stools to become less frequent and more formed. By targeting the underlying mechanism that contributes to diarrhoea, this medicine provides effective symptom relief while supporting the body's natural digestive function. It offers several key benefits:
- Helps Reduce Frequent Loose Stools: By decreasing excess fluid secretion into the intestines, Racecadotril helps reduce the frequency and volume of loose stools. This can provide noticeable relief from the urgency and discomfort associated with acute diarrhoea.
- Supports Fluid and Electrolyte Balance: Excessive diarrhoea can lead to significant fluid and electrolyte loss. By helping control diarrhoeal symptoms, Racecadotril supports the maintenance of hydration and reduces the risk of dehydration-related weakness and fatigue.
- Promotes Comfortable Recovery: Unlike some anti-diarrhoeal medicines that slow intestinal movement, Racecadotril works without significantly affecting normal gut motility. This allows the digestive system to recover more naturally while helping you return to your daily activities sooner.
Directions for Use
To get the best results from your treatment, follow these simple steps:
- Swallow the capsule or tablet whole with a full glass of water.
- Do not crush, chew, or break the medication, as this can affect how it is absorbed.
- You can take this medicine with or without food.
- Continue taking the medicine until you have two normal, formed stools, or as directed by your healthcare provider. Do not exceed the recommended duration.
- Always follow your doctor's exact instructions regarding how long to continue taking Racecadotril.
Storage
Side Effects of Racecadotril
Common Side Effects (Usually mild)
- Headache
- Mild skin rash or itching
- Feeling dizzy
Serious Side Effects (Consult with a doctor right away)
- Severe allergic reactions, including swelling of the face, tongue, lips, or eyelids
- Difficulty breathing or swallowing
- Severe, widespread skin peeling or painful rashes with blisters
Medicines Containing this Salt
View All
Drug Warnings
- Do not take Racecadotril if your stools contain blood or pus, or if you have a high fever, as these may be signs of a bacterial infection that requires different treatment.
- If your symptoms do not improve or if they get worse after 7 days of starting Racecadotril, consult your doctor immediately.
- Do not take this medicine if you have chronic diarrhoea or diarrhoea caused by antibiotics.
- Inspect the packaging before use; do not take the medication if the blister pack is torn or damaged.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interactions
- ACE Inhibitors: Taking Racecadotril alongside blood pressure medications such as lisinopril, enalapril, or ramipril may increase your risk of experiencing sudden allergic swelling of the face, throat, or limbs (angioedema).
Drug-Disease Interactions
- Kidney or Liver Disease: If you have severe liver damage or kidney impairment, your body may process Racecadotril differently. Talk to your doctor before use, as dosage adjustments or alternative treatments may be needed.
- Chronic Diarrhoea: Racecadotril is only designed to treat acute, short-term diarrhoea. Do not use this medicine for chronic, long-term diarrhoea without medical supervision.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
unsafeAvoid consuming alcohol while taking Racecadotril.
Pregnancy
cautionPlease consult your doctor if you have any concerns regarding this, your doctor will decide whether pregnant women can take Racecadotril or not.
Breast Feeding
cautionPlease consult your doctor if you any concerns regarding this, your doctor will decide whether Racecadotril can be taken by breastfeeding mothers or not.
Driving
safeRacecadotril does not affect your ability to drive or handle machinery.
Liver
cautionDose adjustment may be needed in patients with liver impairment. Please consult your doctor if you have a liver impairment or any concerns regarding this.
Kidney
cautionDose adjustment may be needed in patients with kidney impairment. Please consult your doctor if you have kidney impairment or any concerns regarding this.
Children
safe if prescribedRacecadotril is safe for children over three months of age if prescribed by the doctor.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of water and oral rehydration solutions (ORS) to replace lost fluids and essential minerals. This is the most crucial part of recovery.
- Eat bland foods: Stick to easy-to-digest foods such as bananas, rice, applesauce, and plain toast (the BRAT diet) until your stomach settles.
- Avoid gut irritants: Steer clear of spicy foods, greasy or fried items, dairy products, and high-fibre foods while recovering, as these can worsen diarrhoea.
- Limit caffeine and alcohol: Avoid coffee, black tea, soda, and alcoholic drinks, which can stimulate your bowels and worsen fluid loss.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Diarrhoea: It occurs when there is a frequent need to empty the bowels characterized by loose and watery stools. Diarrhoea could be acute or chronic. Acute diarrhoea generally lasts for at least 14 days which can be due to bacterial, viral infection or food poisoning. On the other hand, Chronic diarrhoea lasts for at least four weeks. It could occur due to intestinal disease/disorder such as Crohn’s disease or celiac disease. The causes of diarrhoea include food intolerance, food allergy, adverse reaction to any medicine, viral infection, bacterial infection, intestinal disease, parasitic infection, and stomach or gallbladder surgery. The symptoms of diarrhoea include nausea, abdominal pain, cramps, dehydration and bloating, frequent urge to empty the bowels, and large volume of stools or watery stools.
FAQs
Racecadotril is used to treat symptoms of acute (short-term) diarrhoea in adults and infants greater than 3 months of age. It can be used as a complementary treatment when acute diarrhoea cannot be treated casually.
Racecadotril works by decreasing the amount of salts (electrolytes) and fluids secreted into the intestine, thereby maintaining salt and water balance. Thus, it makes the stools less watery and helps in controlling diarrhoea.
Talk to your doctor if you do not feel better even after taking Racecadotril for 7 days. Do not take Racecadotril for longer durations unless prescribed by the doctor.
Although Racecadotril helps reduce the loss of salts and fluids into the intestine, it does not replace lost fluids and does not provide rehydration. Therefore, it should be taken along with oral rehydration solutions (ORS) to prevent dehydration during diarrhoea. You should also avoid alcohol while recovering from diarrhoea, as alcohol can worsen dehydration and delay recovery.
Acute diarrhoea occurs when there is a watery stool at least 3 times per day for at least 14 days. In contrast, Chronic diarrhoea lasts for more than 2-4 weeks.
No, you should not take Racecadotril if your diarrhoea is bloody or accompanied by pus and a high fever. These symptoms suggest an infectious or bacterial cause that requires a different medical evaluation. Talk to your doctor.
Racecadotril typically begins to work within 24 hours of starting treatment. If your symptoms do not improve after 7 days, you should consult your doctor.
Yes, you can take Racecadotril with or without food. It is highly effective either way. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you experience any stomach discomfort.
There is limited clinical safety data regarding the use of this medicine during pregnancy. For safety, it is generally not recommended. Talk to your doctor before taking this medication if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant.
Unlike some other medications for diarrhea, Racecadotril reduces excess water secretion without slowing down the natural movement of your gut. This significantly lowers the risk of developing rebound constipation. Talk to your doctor if you experience persistent bowel changes.
While the active ingredient can be used for children in specific paediatric formulations, adult tablets or capsules of Racecadotril should not be given to children. Always talk to your doctor to get the correct paediatric diagnosis and treatment.
It is not recommended to use Racecadotril while breastfeeding as it is not fully known if the medicine passes into breast milk. Talk to your doctor to explore safer alternative treatments.
