Diarrhea, Age 12 and Older

Home Treatment

Home treatment can help you treat your diarrhea and avoid other related problems, such as dehydration.

• Take frequent, small sips of water or a rehydration drink and small bites of salty crackers.
  • Try to increase your fluid intake to at least 1 qt (1 L) per hour for 1 to 2 hours or until diarrhea symptoms disappear.
• Begin eating mild foods the next day or sooner, depending on how you feel.
  • Avoid spicy foods, fruits, alcohol, and caffeine until 48 hours after all symptoms have disappeared.
  • Avoid chewing gum that contains sorbitol.
  • Avoid dairy products for 3 days after symptoms disappear. Milk products may be harder for your body to digest when you have diarrhea.

Nonprescription medicines for diarrhea

If you are pregnant, talk with your doctor before taking any medicines for diarrhea.

Nonprescription medicines may be helpful in treating your diarrhea. Follow these tips when taking a nonprescription medicine for diarrhea:

• Use nonprescription antidiarrheal medicine if you have diarrhea for longer than 6 hours. Do not use nonprescription antidiarrheal medicines if you have bloody diarrhea, a high fever, or other signs of serious illness.
• Read and follow all label directions on the nonprescription medicine bottle or box. Be sure to take the recommended dose.
• Long-term use of nonprescription antidiarrheal medicine is not recommended. To avoid constipation, stop taking antidiarrheal medicines as soon as stools thicken.
• If your child or teen gets chickenpox or flu, do not treat the symptoms with over-the-counter medicines that contain bismuth subsalicylate (such as Pepto-Bismol and Kaopectate). If your child has taken this kind of medicine and he or she has changes in behavior with nausea and vomiting, call your doctor. These symptoms could be an early sign of Reye's syndrome, a rare but serious illness.

There are several types of antidiarrheal medicines: those that absorb water and thicken the stool, and those that slow intestinal spasms.

• Thickening mixtures, such as psyllium, contain clay or fruit pectin which break down in the intestine and become food for the bacteria and toxins in the intestine. This gives the stool more bulk.
• Antispasmodic antidiarrheals, such as Imodium A-D and Pepto Diarrhea Control, slow intestinal spasms. Some products contain both thickening and antispasmodic ingredients.
• Probiotics, such as Lactobacillus, are available in either pills or powder. This bacteria occurs naturally in the intestine and may help with digestion. When diarrhea is present, the number of these bacteria is reduced.

Symptoms to Watch For During Home Treatment

Use the Check Your Symptoms section to evaluate your symptoms if any of the following develop during home treatment.

• Signs of dehydration develop.
• Severe diarrhea (large, loose bowel movements every 1 to 2 hours) develops.
• Diarrhea is present for longer than 2 to 3 weeks.
• Black or bloody stools develop.
• A fever develops.
• Other symptoms develop.
• Your symptoms become more severe or more frequent.

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Author:	Jan Nissl, RN, BS	Last Updated: May 26, 2006
Medical Review:	William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine Jerome B. Simon, MD, FRCPC, FACP - Gastroenterology
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