Drug-induced diarrhea
Alerts and Notices
Synopsis
Some medications (eg, checkpoint inhibitors) can trigger development of a colitis similar to inflammatory bowel disease that may warrant treatment with immune suppressant therapy. In this instance, diarrhea will persist beyond the cessation of the offending agent, and further workup with colonoscopy will likely reveal the diagnosis.
Other medications injure the lining of the bowel causing mucositis, such as chemotherapy, and hence cause diarrhea.
Codes
ICD10CM:K52.1 – Toxic gastroenteritis and colitis
SNOMEDCT:
62315008 – Diarrhea
Look For
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Diagnostic Pearls
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Differential Diagnosis & Pitfalls
- Inflammatory bowel disease (eg, Crohn disease, ulcerative colitis)
- C difficile colitis
- Infectious gastroenteritis (bacterial, viral, or fungal)
- Protein-losing enteropathy
- Microscopic colitis
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Celiac disease (celiac sprue)
- Eosinophilic colitis
- Ischemic colitis
- Secretory tumor
- Bile acid diarrhea
- Small intestine bacterial overgrowth
- Lactose intolerance
- Chronic pancreatitis / pancreatic insufficiency
Best Tests
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Management Pearls
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Therapy
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Drug Reaction Data
Below is a list of drugs with literature evidence indicating an adverse association with this diagnosis. The list is continually updated through ongoing research and new medication approvals. Click on Citations to sort by number of citations or click on Medication to sort the medications alphabetically.Subscription Required
References
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Last Reviewed:08/09/2018
Last Updated:10/17/2022
Last Updated:10/17/2022