Ileus after administration of cold remedy in an elderly: Diabetic patient treated with acarbose

Abstract

A 69-year-old type 2 diabetic man was admitted due to diabetic gangrane, He had a history of subtotal gastrectomy. During hospitalization, he was treated with regular insulin and 300 mg/ day of acarbose, He developed a low grade fever, cough and nasal discharge, and was given a compound "cold" remedy with anticholenergic properties. The next day, he suffered from a paralytic ileus. Oral intake and acarbose were withheld and the ileus spontaneously resolved after 2 days. These finding indicate the possibility that the ileus was triggered by drugs with anticholinergic properties in this elderly diabetic patient treated with α-glucosidase inhibitors.