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Antidiarrhoeal (kaolin) + opioid

Kaolin with morphine

Brand names: Kaolin and Morphine Mixture BP

Used in: Burns

Kaolin with morphine is a compound preparation combining an adsorbent (kaolin) with a small amount of the opioid morphine, traditionally used for short-term symptomatic relief of acute diarrhoea.

Dosing — being independently re-sourced

ClinCalc Pro is rebuilding its dose data from primary open sources — the manufacturer SmPC (eMC), the WHO Model Formulary and other official references — under clinician review. This drug's structured dose is not yet published here. Confirm all doses against the product SmPC and your local formulary before prescribing.

Clinical monograph

How it works

Morphine reduces intestinal motility through opioid receptors in the gut, while kaolin acts as an adsorbent; together they reduce stool frequency.

Prescribing in practice

  • It is unsuitable as routine diarrhoea management and should be avoided where antimotility agents are contraindicated, such as acute inflammatory bowel disease or suspected infective or antibiotic-associated colitis, where it may worsen outcomes.
  • It contains an opioid, so it carries opioid-related precautions and is a potential source of misuse.
  • Oral rehydration to correct fluid and electrolyte losses is the priority in acute diarrhoea.

Monitoring

Monitor symptom resolution and hydration status, and reassess if diarrhoea is severe, bloody, febrile or persistent.

Counselling the patient

  • Maintain fluid intake and use rehydration solutions, especially in vulnerable patients.
  • Seek medical advice if there is blood in the stool, high fever or symptoms that do not settle.

Evidence & guidelines

The mainstay of acute diarrhoea management is rehydration, consistent with NICE and general gastroenterology guidance; antimotility opioid preparations have only a limited adjunctive role.

Reference: Drug verified in RxNorm (NLM); confirm dosing against the manufacturer SPC (eMC). Verify against your local formulary and current prescribing references before prescribing. Monograph status: clinician-reviewed (2026-07-04).

Related

Curated clinical cross-links plus same-class fallbacks.

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