Medication
Most people only need over-the-counter (OTC) medications to manage short-term diarrhea. However, doctors may recommend against using OTC diarrhea drugs if symptoms such as fever or bloody stools develop, or if you have diarrhea for longer than 48 hours.
Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics to treat a bacterial infection, especially if your immune system is compromised. They may administer a blood test or ask for a stool sample to identify which bacteria or microorganism is causing your symptoms. The antibiotic prescribed depends on the type of bacteria causing diarrhea, but this might be more common in people who get traveler’s diarrhea after picking up harmful bacteria from unsanitary bathrooms or food preparation.
Antidiarrheal Agents
This class of drugs reduces how much fluid enters the bowel and slows down bowel movements, meaning you will need to visit the bathroom less often.
These include the following:
Loperamide is available as a capsule, tablet, or powder that you can dissolve in fluid and take by mouth.
Bismuth subsalicylate also comes as a chewable tablet. It’s capable of reducing inflammation in the gut and attacking some organisms that can trigger diarrhea. Some people take bismuth subsalicylate to treat heartburn and stomach pain.
Loperamide’s most common side effects are constipation and fatigue. Taking more than the recommended dose can affect heart rhythm, so people with slow or irregular heartbeats or low potassium should avoid loperamide. Children under two years of age shouldn’t use loperamide. Bismuth subsalicylate has links to buzzing or ringing in the ears, so speak with your doctor if any side effects emerge while taking it.
Fluoroquinolones
Doctors traditionally prescribe this class of antibiotics as a first-line treatment for traveler’s diarrhea or to target specific bacteria. Fluoroquinolones are considered broad-spectrum, meaning they can attack a wide range of bacteria.
Drugs in this class include the following:
In parts of the world, including South and Southeast Asia, fluoroquinolones have become less effective because of antibiotic resistance. Campylobacter, salmonella, and shigella may be developing increased resistance to fluoroquinolones in some locations. The drugs also carry a black box warning from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration — its strongest caution — due to side effects that might include heart damage, low blood sugar, mental health effects, and soft tissue problems such as tendon inflammation and rupture.
Antiparasitic Drugs
Parasites are microorganisms that live inside another organism. In humans, these can include protozoa, ectoparasites, and helminths. Different classes of antiparasitic drugs target various parasites. For example, antigiardial agents, including metronidazole, attack giardia (found in standing water such as lakes and ponds), which can cause diarrhea.
A wide variety of antiparasitic drugs are available, and they may cause a range of side effects — some of which include diarrhea. Discuss these with your doctor.
Your diarrhea might result from a chronic health condition, such as a food allergy or IBD. Your doctor will work with you to figure out the underlying issue through testing and come up with an appropriate treatment plan. Likewise, if you can take medication to manage some health conditions, diarrhea may be a side effect of medication. Your healthcare provider may alter the dose or switch you to another medication.
Whether you need prescription antibiotics, antiparasitics, or OTC antidiarrheal drugs, always speak to your doctor about any medications you take or underlying conditions before taking diarrhea medications. Follow the instructions on the packaging closely and report any serious side effects to a medical professional.
Read the full article here
