What treatment is recommended for early onset diarrhea caused by irinotecan?

The recommended treatment for early onset diarrhea caused by irinotecan is atropine. Irinotecan is a chemotherapeutic agent that can lead to a specific type of diarrhea occurring within the first 24 hours after administration. This early onset diarrhea is often due to cholinergic effects, leading to increased bowel motility.

Atropine is an anticholinergic medication that helps counteract these effects by blocking the action of acetylcholine on the gut. This results in reduced gastrointestinal motility and can provide rapid relief from the acute symptoms of diarrhea caused by irinotecan.

While other medications, such as loperamide, are typically used for chronic diarrhea or late-onset diarrhea from irinotecan, they are not effective for the early onset type due to the different underlying mechanisms. Understanding the specific nature of the diarrhea caused by irinotecan is crucial for selecting the appropriate treatment, making atropine the best option in this scenario.