Treatment Diarrhoea

This section is about what over the counter treatments are available (not all treatments may be available in that country) and how they help.

 

  • Please check all ingredients to make sure one is not sensitive or allergic to ingredients

Aim:

  • Aim is to restore normal bowel motion.

 

Treatment includes a variety of medication:

Rehydration salts (Electrolytes)

  • This helps to replace the fluid and salts electrolytes excreted in your diarrhoea and helps to rehydrate yourself and reducing your symptoms if tiredness, headaches and body temperature.
  • It needs to be made up with boiled and cooled water, it should be drunk within the hour however can be stored in the fridge up to 24 hours.
  • Frequent, small sips of refrigerated solutions may be more palatable and less likely to be regurgitated than giving a large volume quickly.
    • When supplying oral rehydration salts for children it may be helpful to provide an oral syringe for ease of administration.
    • An alternative is to give the solution on a teaspoon or medicine spoon, or in a feeding bottle with a low flow teat.

Anti-diarrhoeal

  • This slows your intestinal muscles down so water can be absorbed in stools. This is used as a temporary measure to stop diarrhoea (ideally should be use after 24 hours having diarrhoea) and should not be used if one has a bacterial or parasite infection as the infection will be in the body for longer.
  • They should only be used when required as one can begin to rely on them and they can have serious side effects i.e.
  • They should be avoid if one has blood or pus present in their stools.

Adsorbents

  • This helps to trap any foreign particles/toxins and restore your bowel activity back to normal and should be taken at least two hours apart from other medications as they can affect their absorption.
  • This should not be used if one is dehydrated.

Bismuth salicylate

  • These products help to coat the stomach lining and provide a coating in your stomach lining hence bring your guts back to normal protecting from any toxins/irritants (bacteria) and is ideal for those who have nausea with their diarrhoea.
  • It cannot be used by anyone who is sensitive to salicylates and aspirin.
  • It can constipation.

Antimotility agents

  • Anti-motility drugs should not be used in patients with a high fever or blood and/or mucus present in their stool (dysentery) and/or suspected infection.
  • They work by slowing the intestine rhythm down.
  • They should only be used when required as one can begin to rely on them and they can have serious side effects i.e. toxic mega colon, constipation.

Bulk laxatives

  • These products retain more water and make the faeces more bulky, this then stimulates the bowels and are ideal if one also has constipation.
  • Do not take if one has difficulty in swallowing and one must drink plenty of water and sit or stand upright for at least an hour.
  • It can take several days to work and side effects include abdominal cramp and flatulence.

Anti-histamines (nausea only)

  • These products are only suitable if one has nausea only.
  • If  associated with vertigo, a diagnosis for this should be confirmed.
  • It should not given if one has diarrhoea it may make it worst.
  • Talk to your pharmacist if suitable.

Herbal