A simple controlled method for the clinical evaluation of antidiarrheal drugs.

A castor oil model induced diarrhea was used to evaluate dose regimens of the standard antidiarrheal polycarbophil. The study population consisted of 100 healthy volunteers, divided into five groups of 20 each, in whom diarrhea was induced by 120 ml flavored 36.4% castor oil. The polycarbophil dose regimens evaluated were 1, 1.5, 2, or 3 gm at 30-min intervals after castor oil to total the usual prescribed dose of 6 gm/day. One gram taken every 30 min for six doses lowered the number of bowel movements and also induced the least number of cramps and lowest cramp severity rating (reported by subjects). The same total dose over a different dosing interval was no more effective then placebo.