Racecadotril

General information

Racecadotril (ecadotril, anorphan, (S)-aetophan), through its active metabolite thiorphan, is an inhibitor of the neutral endopeptidase known as enkephalinase, thereby increasing exposure to substrates of the enzyme, including enkephalins and atrial natriuretic peptide [ ]. Increased exposure to atrial natriuretic peptide has not proved beneficial in patients with cardiac failure [ ]. However, the antihypersecretory effect in the gut makes it useful in the treatment of diarrhea, but unlike opioids it does not increase intestinal transit time and is therefore less likely to cause constipation [ ]. Its effects are reversible by naloxone [ ]. It is used as an antidiarrheal agent and is effective in most cases, including those due to rotavirus infection [ , ]. However, it did not improve outcomes compared with standard management in cholera [ ].

Drug studies