Prospective randomized double-blind trial of racecadotril compared with loperamide in elderly people with gastroenteritis living in nursing homes.

Aim: Our aim was to compare the efficacy and tolerability of loperamide and racecadotril in elderly patients with acute diarrhea.

Research Design And Methods: We performed a randomized, prospective, double-blind, and parallel group design implemented in geriatric nursing homes in Catanzaro, Italy, from February 2008 to March 2009. Patients of both sexes were randomly allocated to receive either one tablet of racecadotril 100 mg every 8 h or two tablets of loperamide 2.