What is the role of medicines in helping or worsening acute diarrhea?
What is the role of medicines in helping or worsening acute diarrhea?
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Most cases of diarrhea – whether from a virus or bacteria – don’t usually need to be treated with medicine. As a result, unless very severe, it is typically okay to not take medication when experiencing diarrhea. However, taking medicine on average will help the condition rather than worsen it. Loperamide (imodium) and Bismuth subsalicylate (also known as Kaopectate or Pepto-Bismol) are the most forms of over the counter antidiarrheal medicines.
Most cases of diarrhea – whether from a virus or bacteria – don’t usually need to be treated with medicine. As a result, unless very severe, it is typically okay to not take medication when experiencing diarrhea. However, taking medicine on average will help the condition rather than worsen it. Loperamide (imodium) and Bismuth subsalicylate (also known as Kaopectate or Pepto-Bismol) are the most forms of over the counter antidiarrheal medicines.
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What our experts say
1. For acute diarrhea, is it okay not to drink medicine? Why or why not?
Diarrhea doesn’t usually need to be treated with medicine. As a result, unless very severe, it is typically okay to not take medication when experiencing diarrhea. Most adults experience diarrhea a few times a year and it clears on its own. However, taking medicine on average will help the condition rather than worsen it.
The main type of medication to take for diarrhea is called an antidiarrheal. These are drugs that help to slow down or stop diarrhea in an acute but non-life-threatening situation. Antidiarrheals do not treat an underlying cause of diarrhea, but can help with the symptoms of diarrhea. Many antidiarrheals can be found over the counter but some are prescription only.
2. For chronic and severe diarrhea caused by a disease or bacteria, can the body naturally heal without taking any form of medicine?
Most cases of diarrhea – whether from a virus or bacteria – will clear up in a few days. Diarrhea that lasts for more than a few days or is happening alongside other symptoms like a fever, severe abdominal pain, blood in the stool, or not being able to keep food or liquids down could be serious and requires seeing a health professional immediately.
Chronic diarrhea is defined as having three or more loose stools daily for at least four weeks. There are many possible causes of chronic diarrhea including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), irritable bowel disease (IBD), endocrine disorders, food allergy, or infection. If experiencing chronic diarrhea, one should seek immediate medical attention. While antidiarrheals will likely help with the symptoms of diarrhea, they will not fix the underlying cause which means that the diarrhea will likely persist.
3. If diarrhea doesn’t subside due to existing conditions (see question 2a), what medicine should be taken?
Loperamide (imodium) is the most common antidiarrheal that can be purchased over the counter. Bismuth subsalicylate, which is often sold as Kaopectate and Pepto-Bismol, is for a general upset stomach but can be used as an anti-diarrheal and anti-inflammatory drug that can actually help stop the spread of some strains of bacteria that cause diarrhea. There are also prescription medications that can help, such as diphenoxylate-atropine (also known as Lomotil), which is an opioid used in combination with a medication called atropine to treat diarrhea.
4. What does over-the-counter medicine (loperamide, bismuth sulphide) do to help the body recover from diarrhea? When should one take it?
Loperamide (imodium) decreases the number and frequency of intestinal contractions in the body, which can slow diarrhea down and make bouts of diarrhea less common. Imodium should be taken on an empty stomach after the first loose stool and can help to relieve symptoms in just one hour. While imodium can work quickly to relieve diarrhea symptoms from the start, it can be taken at any point during a regular course of diarrhea to help relieve symptoms.
Bismuth subsalicylate (also known as Kaopectate or Pepto-Bismol) slows diarrhea by reducing the amount of water that goes into the bowels. Bismuth subsalicylate can be taken at any point during a regular course of diarrhea to help relieve symptoms.
Diphenoxylate-atropine (also known as co-phenotrope and Lomotil), is a combination of the medications Diphenoxylate (an opioid) and atropine (a type of anticholinergic, which help to dry up body fluids and also slow gut movement) used to treat diarrhea. This is a prescription medication, and typically cannot be purchased over the counter. Lomotil helps to stop diarrhea frequency by slowing down intestinal movement. Lomotil is typically used to treat acute, severe, short-term diarrhea that has been resistant to other medications.
Diarrhea doesn’t usually need to be treated with medicine, but taking medicine on average will help the condition rather than worsen it. There are also medications one can take to help someone feel better who has diarrhea. If you have an ongoing underlying condition or are concerned about an underlying condition, seeing a health care provider is the best approach. In addition, not all medications for diarrhea will work for everyone. It’s also best practice to read the full label of a medication for any potential interactions or side effects.
1. For acute diarrhea, is it okay not to drink medicine? Why or why not?
Diarrhea doesn’t usually need to be treated with medicine. As a result, unless very severe, it is typically okay to not take medication when experiencing diarrhea. Most adults experience diarrhea a few times a year and it clears on its own. However, taking medicine on average will help the condition rather than worsen it.
The main type of medication to take for diarrhea is called an antidiarrheal. These are drugs that help to slow down or stop diarrhea in an acute but non-life-threatening situation. Antidiarrheals do not treat an underlying cause of diarrhea, but can help with the symptoms of diarrhea. Many antidiarrheals can be found over the counter but some are prescription only.
2. For chronic and severe diarrhea caused by a disease or bacteria, can the body naturally heal without taking any form of medicine?
Most cases of diarrhea – whether from a virus or bacteria – will clear up in a few days. Diarrhea that lasts for more than a few days or is happening alongside other symptoms like a fever, severe abdominal pain, blood in the stool, or not being able to keep food or liquids down could be serious and requires seeing a health professional immediately.
Chronic diarrhea is defined as having three or more loose stools daily for at least four weeks. There are many possible causes of chronic diarrhea including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), irritable bowel disease (IBD), endocrine disorders, food allergy, or infection. If experiencing chronic diarrhea, one should seek immediate medical attention. While antidiarrheals will likely help with the symptoms of diarrhea, they will not fix the underlying cause which means that the diarrhea will likely persist.
3. If diarrhea doesn’t subside due to existing conditions (see question 2a), what medicine should be taken?
Loperamide (imodium) is the most common antidiarrheal that can be purchased over the counter. Bismuth subsalicylate, which is often sold as Kaopectate and Pepto-Bismol, is for a general upset stomach but can be used as an anti-diarrheal and anti-inflammatory drug that can actually help stop the spread of some strains of bacteria that cause diarrhea. There are also prescription medications that can help, such as diphenoxylate-atropine (also known as Lomotil), which is an opioid used in combination with a medication called atropine to treat diarrhea.
4. What does over-the-counter medicine (loperamide, bismuth sulphide) do to help the body recover from diarrhea? When should one take it?
Loperamide (imodium) decreases the number and frequency of intestinal contractions in the body, which can slow diarrhea down and make bouts of diarrhea less common. Imodium should be taken on an empty stomach after the first loose stool and can help to relieve symptoms in just one hour. While imodium can work quickly to relieve diarrhea symptoms from the start, it can be taken at any point during a regular course of diarrhea to help relieve symptoms.
Bismuth subsalicylate (also known as Kaopectate or Pepto-Bismol) slows diarrhea by reducing the amount of water that goes into the bowels. Bismuth subsalicylate can be taken at any point during a regular course of diarrhea to help relieve symptoms.
Diphenoxylate-atropine (also known as co-phenotrope and Lomotil), is a combination of the medications Diphenoxylate (an opioid) and atropine (a type of anticholinergic, which help to dry up body fluids and also slow gut movement) used to treat diarrhea. This is a prescription medication, and typically cannot be purchased over the counter. Lomotil helps to stop diarrhea frequency by slowing down intestinal movement. Lomotil is typically used to treat acute, severe, short-term diarrhea that has been resistant to other medications.
Diarrhea doesn’t usually need to be treated with medicine, but taking medicine on average will help the condition rather than worsen it. There are also medications one can take to help someone feel better who has diarrhea. If you have an ongoing underlying condition or are concerned about an underlying condition, seeing a health care provider is the best approach. In addition, not all medications for diarrhea will work for everyone. It’s also best practice to read the full label of a medication for any potential interactions or side effects.
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Resources
- Treatment for Diarrhea (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
- Treatments for Diarrhea (UNC Center for Functional GI & Motility Disorders)
- Diarrhea (Cleveland Clinic)
- Acute Diarrhea in Adults (American Family Physician)
- Viruses, Bacteria, and Parasites in the Digestive Tract (University of Rochester Medical Center)
- Bacterial Gastroenteritis (Johns Hopkins Medicine)
- Antibiotic Therapy for Acute Watery Diarrhea and Dysentery (Military Medicine)
- Treatment for Diarrhea (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
- Treatments for Diarrhea (UNC Center for Functional GI & Motility Disorders)
- Diarrhea (Cleveland Clinic)
- Acute Diarrhea in Adults (American Family Physician)
- Viruses, Bacteria, and Parasites in the Digestive Tract (University of Rochester Medical Center)
- Bacterial Gastroenteritis (Johns Hopkins Medicine)
- Antibiotic Therapy for Acute Watery Diarrhea and Dysentery (Military Medicine)
