What Medicine To Take For Diarrhea

So What Actually Causes Diarrhea

When certain irritants become attached to the walls ofthe colon and are unable to be removed, the bowel forces waste matter out asfast as possible to try and get rid of them . The main instigatorsof diarrhea are definitely bacterial and viral infections in the gut, whichusually come about from something you ate or drank that was contaminated . This happens quite frequently when people visit third worldcountries because their local bacteria is different to ours and the body is notused to it. Food intolerances, medications and acute nervousness can also causediarrhoea, along with Crohns disease, IBS and ulcerative colitis. Regardlessof the cause though, these top 8 natural treatments for diarrhea will give youfast relief and come with no side effects. They are also safe for the wholefamily.

So here they are in our order of importance

How Do Otc Antidiarrheal Medicines Work

Loperamide slows down how fast things move through your intestines . This allows more fluid to be absorbed into your body. This helps you have less diarrhea and more formed stools.

Bismuth subsalicylate balances the way fluid moves through your intestines. It reduces inflammation. It keeps bacteria and viruses that cause diarrhea from growing in the stomach and intestines.

Is Colestipol Used For Diarrhea

ColestipolColestiduseddiarrheaColestipol

Other, less frequent gastrointestinal complaints consist of abdominal discomfort , intestinal gas , indigestion and heartburn, diarrhea and loose stools, and nausea and vomiting. Bleeding hemorrhoids and blood in the stool have been infrequently reported.

Secondly, how does questran work for diarrhea? Cholestyramine is the only agent approved by Health Canada for the symptomatic control of bile acid-induced diarrhea due to short bowel syndrome to help reduce fecal bile acid loss . Lower doses are generally used in patients with short-bowel syndrome.

Similarly, it is asked, is cholestyramine used for diarrhea?

Cholestyramine is a bile acid sequestrant that is generally considered as the first-line treatment for bile acid diarrhea. Diosmectite, an absorbent, can be used for the treatment of chronic functional diarrhea, radiation-induced diarrhea, and chemotherapy-induced diarrhea.

How long does it take for colestipol to start working?

It may take several weeks before you get the full benefit of this drug. Colestipol may decrease your absorption of other medications. Take your other medications as directed by your doctor, usually at least 1 hour before or 4 to 6 hours after colestipol.

Recommended Reading: Can Align Probiotic Cause Nausea

How To Use Loperamide Oral

See also Warning section.

If you are using the over-the-counter product to self-treat, read all the directions on the product package before taking this medication. If your doctor has prescribed this medication, follow your doctor’s directions and the directions on your prescription label.

Take this medication by mouth, usually after each loose stool or as directed by your doctor. Shake the bottle well before each use. Measure each dose carefully using the attached measuring cup. Do not use a household spoon since you may not get the correct dose.

The dosage is based on your condition and response to treatment. In children, dosage is also based on age and weight. Adults should not use more than 8 milligrams in 24 hours if self-treating, or 16 milligrams in 24 hours if under a doctor’s direction.

Diarrhea can cause dehydration. Drink plenty of fluids and minerals to replace what is lost. Tell your doctor right away if you develop signs of dehydration . You may also need to change to a bland diet during this time to reduce irritation to your stomach/intestines. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Tell your doctor if your diarrhea does not improve after 2 days, if your condition worsens, or if you develop new symptoms. If you develop blood in the stool, fever, or an uncomfortable fullness/swelling of the stomach/abdomen, or if you think you may have a serious medical problem, seek immediate medical attention.

Natural Remedies For Diarrhea #8 Brat Diet

Eating high-binding and hardening foods such as overripebananas, rice, apple sauce and toast are definitely the way to goif you currently have a dose of the runs. Other foods including pasta, oatmeal,yogurt and healthy wholemealcrackers are also very good for treating diarrhea and hardening stools. Andmake sure you avoid all spicy foods and saturated fatty foods, especially friedfoods and takeaway foods. Eating these unhealthy foods will only keep sendingyou back to that dreaded thunder box!

Along with following the BRAT diet, try making yourself anice peppermint or chamomile tea as well. Chamomile and peppermint are bothvery soothing to the gastrointestinal tract and help to alleviate the build-upof intestinal gas that can sometimes accompany diarrhoea. Youcan easily buy chamomile or peppermint tea from most supermarkets or online. Forextra benefit and taste, add a slice of fresh lemon to your cup and drink 3-4times per day. For children with diarrhea, try giving them some peppermintcandy . Just be aware thatpeppermint candy can be high in sugar so be sure to go with a sugar free brand.

Read Also: Can Probiotics Help With Bv

What Are Antidiarrhoeal Medicines

Antidiarrhoeal medicines are used to reduce the number of trips that you need to make to the toilet when you have diarrhoea. Two main types of antidiarrhoeal medicines are used to treat diarrhoea. These are called antimotility medicines and bulk-forming agents:

• Antimotility medicines are used to treat acute diarrhoea. They include codeine phosphate, co-phenotrope, loperamide, and kaolin and morphine mixture. The most commonly used antimotility medicine is loperamide . Kaolin and morphine mixture is very rarely used to treat diarrhoea nowadays. Antimotility medicines are not advised for children under the age of 12.
• Bulk-forming agents are used for people who have diarrhoea because they have irritable bowel syndrome. They include ispaghula husk, methylcellulose and sterculia.

Antisecretory medicines are another group of treatments not used very much in the UK. They are designed to be used with rehydration treatment. They reduce the amount of water that is released into the gut during an episode of diarrhoea. They can be used for children who are older than 3 months of age and for adults. The only one licensed in the UK is racecadotril . This is not recommended for use in Scotland, because it is not clear how effective it is. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines do not encourage its use either in the UK.

Home Remedies For Diarrhea #1 Organic Apple Cidervinegar

Organic ACV is our first choice and #1 treatment for fixing diarrhea quickly without any adverse effects. In fact, this miracle foodwill give you some much needed relief in as little as 20 minutes! Apple cidervinegar is the ultimate bacterial, viral, parasitic and microbial killer. Italso helps to replenish the supply of good bacteria in the digestive tract. And if your diarrhea happensto be accompanied with nausea, stomach ache and stomach cramps, ACV will help getrid of those in a hurry as well!

So all you need to do is mix 1-2 tablespoons of organicapple cider vinegar in 6-8 oz of warm, filteredwater and drink down on an empty stomach. Repeat this process every three hoursduring waking hours for 24 hours. After this, you simply take ACV once in themorning and once in the evening permanently to keep diarrhoea and upsetstomachs away for good . For those of youwho struggle with the taste of apple cider vinegar, you can either add a littleManuka honey to the mix or you can buy the ACV capsules, which are easy to takeand work just as well.

Don’t Miss: Can Align Probiotic Cause Nausea

What Do I Do If My Baby Or Young Child Has Diarrhea

If your child has severe diarrhea, call your healthcare provider. Young children are at a higher risk of dehydration than adults. You also cant treat a childs diarrhea the same way you would an adult case. Over-the-counter medications can be dangerous in young children and all treatments of diarrhea in children should be guided by their healthcare provider. Its important to keep your child hydrated. Your provider will help you determine the best way to do this, but options often include:

• Breast milk.
• Formula.
• Electrolyte drinks for older children this is not recommended for babies.

The best option to keep your child hydrated might change as the child ages. Always check with your provider before giving your child a new liquid or treatment of any kind.

If you have any questions or concerns about your childs diarrhea, dont hesitate to call your provider.

What Types Of Otc Medicines Treat Diarrhea

You can buy over-the-counter medicines without a prescription from your doctor. Some OTC medicines can help you feel better if you have diarrhea. These are called antidiarrheal medicines. Antidiarrheal medicines include:

• Loperamide .
• Bismuth subsalicylate .

Bismuth subsalicylate can also be used for an upset stomach.

Recommended Reading: Do Bananas Help With Bloating

What Side Effects Are Possible With This Medication

Many medications can cause side effects. A side effect is an unwanted response to a medication when it is taken in normal doses. Side effects can be mild or severe, temporary or permanent. The side effects listed below are not experienced by everyone who takes this medication. If you are concerned about side effects, discuss the risks and benefits of this medication with your doctor.

The following side effects have been reported by at least 1% of people taking this medication. Many of these side effects can be managed, and some may go away on their own over time.

Contact your doctor if you experience these side effects and they are severe or bothersome. Your pharmacist may be able to advise you on managing side effects.

• abdominal pain

Stop taking the medication and seek immediate medical attention if any of the following occur:

• signs of a severe allergic reaction

Some people may experience side effects other than those listed. Check with your doctor if you notice any symptom that worries you while you are taking this medication.

Could Your Meds Be Causing Diarrhea

Most diarrhea will resolve within 24 to 48 hoursif its caused by viral gastroenteritis or food borne illness. If your diarrhea is hanging on and not resolving, take a look at your medications. It can be challenging to identify which medication may be causing drug-induced diarrhea, especially if youre taking multiple medications. Here are some well-known offenders commonly associated with drug-induced diarrhea.

The diagnosis of medication-induced diarrhea often relies on the absence of other obvious causes or the rapid disappearance of the diarrhea after stopping the suspected drug. Worth looking at . . .

Dr O.

Also Check: Turmeric And Dizziness

How Can I Treat Or Prevent Dehydration Caused By Diarrhea

To treat or prevent dehydration, you need to replace lost fluids and electrolytescalled rehydration therapyespecially if you have acute diarrhea. Although drinking plenty of water is important in treating and preventing dehydration, you should also drink liquids that contain electrolytes, such as the following:

• broths

Home Remedies For Diarrhea #3 Turmeric

Turmeric is yet another natural treatment for diarrhea thatworks very well and is cheap. If youre looking to clog yourself up quickly,turmeric will certainly do it! And most people already have some turmericstored in their pantry for cooking, so if you do you can get started with this treatmentright now. Just mix a teaspoon of turmeric powder in a glass of warm, filteredwater and throw straight down the hatch. If you dont like the idea of doing thatthen you can mix a teaspoon of turmeric in with a tablespoon of honey or yogurtand take it that way . For kids, the secondoption is definitely the easiest. Just remember to give them ½ a teaspooninstead of 1 full teaspoon. Teenagers, however, can have the same amount as anadult . Take this concoction 3 times daily on an emptystomach for 1-2 days to be completely diarrhea free!

Also Check: Does Prenatal Vitamins Cause Diarrhea

When Should I Call My Doctor About Diarrhea

If you have diarrhea that fails to improve or resolve completely, you should call your healthcare provider. Keep track of any other symptoms you may be experiencing this includes fever, vomiting, rash, weakness, numbness, lightheadedness, dizziness, weight loss and blood in your stool. If you have any concerns, its always best to call your healthcare provider.

Best Otc Remedies For Diarrheaand You Can Buy Them Online

It’s like the childhood book taught useverybody poops, right? But there’s a big difference between needing to go number two and having uncontrollable diarrhea, especially at inopportune times like before a big work meeting, at a wedding, or while you’re on vacation.

Diarrhea is defined as passing loose, watery stools, three or more times a day. “There can be many different causes, but it’s most commonly due to food intolerances, certain medications, celiac disease, bacterial or viral infections, or IBS-D,” says Taz Bhatia, MD, an integrative health expert and founder of CentreSpring MD.

IBS-D, which stands for irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea, affects 25 to 45 million people in the U.S., and 2 out of 3 are female. “Patients with IBS-D often experience abdominal pain along with increased frequency of bowel movements, and these symptomsalong with others, like bloatingmay force them to miss important social events, school, or professional obligations,” says Jonathan Rosenberg, MD, a gastroenterologist at Illinois Gastroenterology Group.

Whatever’s causing your repeated trips to the loo, make sure you drink up: With diarrhea comes the serious risk of dehydration. But you may also need some medication to help settle your stomach.

Don’t Miss: Does Colostrum Heal Leaky Gut

For Nausea And Vomiting

Last nights Chinese take-out leftovers seem like a great meal ideauntil your stomach clearly begins to disagree with you. Nausea and vomiting are one of your bodys major defenses against food poisoning, and can also arise from problems like motion sickness and overeating. While the best way to cure an upset stomach from most cases of food poisoning is to let your body rid itself of the bacteria causing your discomfort, over-the-counter antiemetics can come in handy when dealing with nausea and vomiting symptoms caused by motion sickness and certain other conditions. There are two main types of OTC medications used to treat nausea and vomiting:

• Bismuth subsalicylate, the active ingredient in OTC medications like Kaopectate® and Pepto-Bismol, protects your stomach lining. Bismuth subsalicylate is also used to treat ulcers, upset stomach and diarrhea.
• Other medicines include cyclizine, dimenhydrinate, diphenhydramine, and meclizine. These can be found in medicines such as Dramamine, Bonine, or others, and they dull motion sickness by acting on your brain. They block messages from reaching the part of the brain that controls nausea and vomiting

How Should I Take Antimotility Medicines

The following directions are for adults only:

Loperamide – the adult dose of this is two capsules at first. This is followed by one capsule after each time you pass some diarrhoea, up to a maximum of eight capsules in 24 hours.

Co-phenotrope – the adult dose is four tablets at first. Six hours later, take two more tablets. After that, take two tablets every six hours.

Codeine phosphate – for adults, the usual dose is one 15 mg tablet, up to four times a day.

Don’t Miss: Can Align Probiotic Cause Nausea

Should You Take A Prescription

Your doctor may prescribe medicine to help control your symptoms if you often have diarrhea because of irritable bowel syndrome . These medicines include:

Alosetron is for some women with really serious IBS-D. Your doctor may give it to you if nothing else works. It could cause serious side effects, like constipation and less blood flow to your colon.

Eluxadoline can slow down gut contractions. That might ease your pain. But you shouldnât use it if you donât have a gallbladder. It could lead to pancreatitis. Thatâs when your pancreas is inflamed.

Rifaximin is an antibiotic that works on certain bacteria in your gut. Youâd likely only take it for 2 weeks. Itâs sometimes used to treat travelerâs diarrhea.

New IBS-D drugs are in the works. Ask your doctor if there are more options you can try.

Inflammatory bowel diseases, like Crohnâs disease or ulcerative colitis, can cause ongoing diarrhea. Your doctor will give you another kind of prescription to manage those conditions.

How To Cope With Side Effects Of Loperamide

What to do about:

• constipation â stop taking loperamide. If you have constipation, eat more fibre by having fresh fruit, vegetables and cereals, and drink plenty of water.â¯Try to exercise regularly, for example by going for a daily walk or run. If this does not help, talk to your pharmacist or doctor.
• feeling dizzy â if loperamide makes you feel dizzy when you stand up, try getting up very slowly or stay sitting down until you feel better. If you begin to feel dizzy, lie down so that you do not faint, then sit until you feel better. Avoid driving, cycling, or using tools or machines if you feel dizzy.
• feeling sick â try taking loperamide with or after a meal or snack. It may also help if you stick to simple meals and avoid rich or spicy food.
• headaches â make sure you rest and drink plenty of fluids. Do not drink too much alcohol. Ask your pharmacist to recommend a painkiller. Talk to your doctor if the headaches last longer than a week or are severe.
• farting â avoid foods that cause wind like lentils, beans and onions. It might also help to eat smaller and more frequent meals, eat and drink slowly, and exercise regularly. There are products you can buy from a pharmacy to help with wind. Loperamide can be bought mixed with simeticone, a medicine for wind.

Read Also: Do Bananas Help With Bloating

Can Diarrhea Be Prevented

There are a few ways you can decrease your chances of having diarrhea, including:

• Avoiding infections with good hygiene habits: Washing your hands with soap and water after using the bathroom, as well as cooking, handling, and eating, is an important way to prevent diarrhea. Washing your hands thoroughly can really help keep you and those around you stay healthy.
• Getting your vaccinations: Rotavirus, one of the causes of diarrhea, can be prevented with the rotavirus vaccine. This is given to infants in several stages during the first year of life.
• Storing food properly: By keeping your food stored at the right temperatures, not eating things that have gone bad, cooking food to the recommended temperature and handling all foods safely, you can prevent diarrhea.
• Watching what you drink when you travel: Travelers diarrhea can happen when you drink water or other drinks that havent been treated correctly. This is most likely to happen in developing countries. To avoid getting diarrhea there are a few tips to follow. Watch what you drink. Dont drink tap water, use ice cubes, brush your teeth with tap water, or consume unpasteurized milk, milk products or unpasteurized juices. You should also be careful when trying local foods from street vendors, eating raw or undercooked meats , as well as raw fruits and vegetables. When in doubt, drink bottled water or something thats been boiled first .