[Special consideration of clinical and travelling medical criteria (author's transl)].

The pharmacological properties of difenoxin hydrochloride, a meperidine derivative exerting antidiarrheal effect, are presented. The drug is compared with related substances such as diphenoxylate hydrochloride and loperamide. In an open multicentre study including 259 patients with acute or chronic diarrhea of various etiology, difenoxin hydrochloride removed the complaints in 63--75% of the cases and improved them in some further 20%. Mild side effects were seen in 4% of the cases. In view of the necessity to obtain immediate therapeutic results such an antidiarrheal may be prescribed in cases of traveler's diarrhea despite certain doubts. However, the patients should be warned to see a doctor if certain symptoms appeared.