Causes of drug-induced diarrhoea

Diarrhoea is an unpleasant side effect of many medications, and can cause a lack of compliance in patients. Common offending drugs include:

• Magnesium
• Antibiotics - penicillins
• Chemotherapy
• Omeprazole
• Cimetidine
• Ranitidine
• NSAIDs
• Metformin

Nearly all antibiotics can cause antibiotic-associated diarrhea. Antibiotics most commonly involved include:

• Macrolides, such as clarithromycin
• Cephalosporins, such as cefdinir and cefpodoxime
• Fluoroquinolones, such as ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin
• Penicillins, such as amoxicillin and ampicillin

Causes of drug-induced constipation

• Anti-depressant agents
• Anti-psychotic agents