Multicenter, double-blind, randomized comparison of wood creosote, the principal active ingredient of Seirogan, an herbal antidiarrheal medication, and loperamide in adults with acute nonspecific diarrhea.

摘要

BACKGROUND: Seirogan, an herbal medication containing wood creosote, a mixture of simple phenolic (single-ring)compounds, has been marketed in Asia for the past century as an antidiarrheal and antispasmodic medication. This was the first randomized, double-blind study of this herbal medication in patients with acute, nonspecific diarrhea. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and tolerability of wood creosote with those of loperamide hydrochloride in patients with acute, nonspecific diarrhea. METHODS: This double-blind, randomized, active-controlled study was conducted at 12 centers across the United States and Mexico. Patients aged >or=18 years with acute, nonspecific diarrhea, defined as a history of diarrhea for or=3 unformed stools in the 24 hours before the study, accompanied by >or=1 associated symptom (ie, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramping, and/or fever [