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New Pharmacologic Treatments in Pediatric Neurogastroenterology

Alex Cohen1, Justin C Wheeler2

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah, 81 North Mario Capecchi Drive, #1A.011, Salt Lake City, UT 84113, USA.

Gastroenterology Clinics of North America
|August 2, 2025
PubMed

Insights

New medications are emerging for pediatric neurogastroenterology, targeting gut-brain interaction disorders (DGBI) and dysmotility. These treatments, approved for adults, offer hope for improved pediatric gut health management.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Gastroenterology
  • Neurogastroenterology
  • Gut-Brain Interaction Disorders

Background:

  • Pediatric neurogastroenterology addresses enteric nervous system disorders in children.
  • Disorders of the gut-brain interaction (DGBI) and dysmotility are key areas of focus.
  • Recent advancements in adult DGBI treatment offer potential for pediatric applications.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent medication advancements for DGBI and dysmotility.
  • To highlight treatments approved or showing promise in adults.
  • To inform potential pediatric applications in neurogastroenterology.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of medications for DGBI and dysmotility.
  • Categorization of drugs by mechanism and condition treated.
  • Focus on treatments approved or investigated since 2015.

Main Results:

  • Secretagogues, serotonin agonists, and sodium channel antagonists for constipation/IBS-C.
  • Antibiotics and opioid agonists for irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea (IBS-D).
  • Cannabinoid agonists for functional abdominal pain and neurokinin-1 antagonists for nausea/cyclic vomiting syndrome.

Conclusions:

  • Several medication classes show efficacy for adult DGBI and dysmotility.
  • These adult-approved treatments represent potential therapeutic avenues for pediatric neurogastroenterology.
  • Further research is needed to establish pediatric safety and efficacy.

Keywords:
Abdominal painConstipationDGBIDysmotilityIBSNauseaPediatric

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