Treating Diarrhea - Diarrhea: Digestive Disorders

Content provided by the Faculty of the Harvard Medical School

Treating diarrhea

Most people with diarrhea will recover on their own; it generally runs its course in a few days. In particularly severe or prolonged episodes, replacement of lost fluids and electrolytes (such as sodium and potassium) is essential to combat dehydration. Clear liquids are the first choice. For mild cases of dehydration, juices, soft drinks, clear broth, and safe water are recommended. Apple juice and sodas are good. Citrus juices are not. Neither are alcoholic beverages.

For more severe cases, sports drinks like Gatorade can replace sugars and electrolytes, but too much may cause further diarrhea. Rehydration solutions such as Pedialyte are probably best, particularly for children with diarrhea.

Products such as kaolin and pectin (Kaopectate) give the stool a firmer consistency. Medications that work to slow the bowel include paregoric, opiates, and diphenoxylate with atropine (Lomotil), all of which are available by prescription only, as well as loperamide (Imodium), which is available over the counter. These provide quick but temporary relief by reducing muscle spasms in the GI tract. They should be used only for a few days, however. Bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol) also seems to work pretty well; it may turn the stool and tongue black, so don't be alarmed when that happens.

Be aware, however, that using these remedies for symptomatic relief is controversial, particularly for bacterial gastroenteritis. While they may make you more comfortable, they suppress the diarrhea that helps bring the offending bacteria out of your system. If you slow down the process, the bugs are going to linger longer.

After the first 24 hours, a little food is probably okay. But it may be best to try to go without food as long as possible. If you are really hungry, try going on a BRAT diet: bananas, rice, applesauce, and white toast. The bananas bind the stool, slowing the movement a little. The rice, applesauce, and dry toast are low-fiber and easily digested.

Last updated:	August 21, 2007