Octreotide versus loperamide in controlling chemotherapy-induced diarrhoea

The aim of the study was to compare the efficacy of octreotide and of loperamide in controlling diarrhea following chemotherapy (AF 100 mg/mq + 5 FU 375 mg/mq). Twenty patients with colonic adenocarcinoma (ST C1 and C2 Dukes) were studied: ten were assigned to receive octreotide (0.1 mg bid) for three days and ten to receive loperamide (4 mg orally initially and then 2 mg after each loose bowel movement, until a maximum dosage of 14 mg/day) for three days. Complete resolution of diarrhoea was seen in all patients treated with octreotide. In the loperamide group diarrhoea resolved only in three patients. Seven patients unresponsive to loperamide therapy were subsequently treated with octreotide (0.1 mg bid) for three days and complete response was obtained. This study confirms that octreotide is more effective than loperamide in controlling chemotherapy‐related diarrhoea and its use improves patients' quality of life and contributes to extend chemotherapy treatment.