Diarrhea can be controlled with Lomotil or Imodium, unless the diarrhea is caused by infection. If diarrhea occurs less than 24 hours after the infusion, atropine is given to control the symptoms. This regimen is tailored for irinotecan-treated patients and should ot be used in others, unless indicated otherwise. Patients administered any of the above drugs should be given a bowel regimen in order to maintain normal bowel functioning. The vinca chemotherapy drugs frequently cause constipation beginning within 7 days of therapy.
Elderly patients are particularly susceptible to constipation from both narcotics and vincas.
The usual doses of medications to prevent and treat constipation are shown in the table below. Nausea, bloating, cramping.