Motilin agonist
- Stimulates migrating motor complexes
- Accelerates gastric emptying
- Receptor desensitization → tachyphylaxis within days
- Cramping, nausea, diarrhea
Drugs with this mechanism (3)
- Clarithromycin — Macrolide used in H. pylori and atypical infections; a strong CYP3A4 inhibitor.
- Erythromycin — The original macrolide; also a motilin agonist used as a prokinetic.
- Motilin — Gut peptide driving the migrating motor complex; erythromycin imitates it.
Self-check
- Why can a motilin agonist lose effect within days?
Receptor desensitization causes tachyphylaxis. - How does motilin activation affect gastric emptying?
Accelerates it.
All mechanisms · Open Motilin agonist in the interactive console ↗