Gastrointestinal motility disorders are treated pharmacologically through several mechanistic classes: dopamine (D2) receptor antagonists and motilin receptor agonists that increase gut motility/bowel transit, laxatives that act via distinct mechanisms (bulk-forming, stool-softening, osmotic, stimulant, chloride channel activation, or opioid receptor antagonism) to relieve constipation, and antidiarrheal agents (opioid agonists, adsorbent/binding agents) that slow transit or bind toxins. These classes are organized by their site and mechanism of action along the gut-brain and enteric nervous system axis, distinguishing peripheral versus central nervous system activity as a key pharmacologic differentiator.
Gastrointestinal motility disorders are treated pharmacologically through several mechanistic classes: dopamine (D2) receptor antagonists and motilin receptor agonists that increase gut motility/bowe…