Drug | Initial dose | Maximum dose | Considerations |
Loperamide | 2 to 4 mg orally four times daily | 8 mg/day four times daily |
|
Diphenoxylate-atropine | 2.5 mg/0.025 mg (1 tablet) orally four times daily | 2 tablets four times daily (20 mg diphenoxylate/0.2 mg atropine per day) |
|
Pantoprazole | 80 mg IV twice daily or 40 mg orally twice daily | 80 mg IV twice daily or 40 mg orally twice daily |
|
Famotidine | 20 mg IV or orally twice daily | 40 mg IV or orally twice daily |
|
Cimetidine | 400 mg orally four times daily | 600 mg orally four times daily |
|
Codeine | 15 mg orally twice daily | 15 mg orally four times daily |
|
Octreotide (intermittent) | 100 mcg IV or subcutaneously three times daily | 150 mcg IV or subcutaneously three times daily |
|
Octreotide (continuous IV infusion) | 12.5 mcg/hour IV continuous infusion | 50 mcg/hour IV continuous infusion |
|
CNS: central nervous system; H2RA: histamine-2 receptor antagonist; HR: heart rate; IV: intravenous.
* Because supratherapeutic doses of loperamide can prolong QTc interval and cause cardiac arrhythmias, it is advisable to obtain an electrocardiogram when increasing the dose to >16 mg/day.