Which medication is LEAST likely to cause diarrhea in a patient receiving enteral nutrition?

Which medication is LEAST likely to cause diarrhea in a patient receiving enteral nutrition?

• A. codeine
• B. clindamycin
• C. kayexalate
• D. magnesium oxide

Answer: (A)

Codeine is an opioid analgesic that slows GI motility and commonly causes constipation. In a patient receiving enteral nutrition, that constipating effect makes diarrhea less likely, which is why it is the best choice for least diarrhea risk. The other meds tend to increase diarrhea: Kayexalate can irritate the gut and cause diarrhea; magnesium oxide is an osmotic laxative that draws water into the bowel; clindamycin is well known for antibiotic-associated diarrhea and C. difficile infection. So codeine stands out as the least diarrheagenic option in this setting.

Codeine is an opioid analgesic that slows GI motility and commonly causes constipation. In a patient receiving enteral nutrition, that constipating effect makes diarrhea less likely, which is why it is the best choice for least diarrhea risk. The other meds tend to increase diarrhea: Kayexalate can irritate the gut and cause diarrhea; magnesium oxide is an osmotic laxative that draws water into the bowel; clindamycin is well known for antibiotic-associated diarrhea and C. difficile infection. So codeine stands out as the least diarrheagenic option in this setting.