The action of trimebutine maleate on gastrointestinal motility is mediated by opiate receptors in human subjects.

The effects of trimebutine on interdigestive motor activity of the small intestine and the colon were studied in healthy volunteers. Trimebutine induced in all subjects phase III-like motor complexes, which were similar to spontaneously occurring phase III complexes of the interdigestive cycle in antrum and duodenum. Trimebutine-induced complexes were suppressed by naloxone. Trimebutine and/or naloxone had no consistent effect on interdigestive contractile activity in the colon.