If diarrhea develops while taking a certain drug, the diarrhea may be cured if the drug can be discontinued or replaced with another drug. If diarrhea is caused by a viral infection, it generally resolves by itself in 24 to 48 hours. Diarrhea caused by a bacterial infection may resolve by itself, but sometimes it requires treatment with an antibiotic. Diarrhea caused by a parasitic infection is treated with antiparasitic drugs.
Many prescription and nonprescription drugs are available for the treatment of diarrhea. Nonprescription drugs include adsorbents (for example, kaolin-pectin), which adhere to chemicals, toxins, and some infectious organisms. Some adsorbents can also help firm up the stool. Bismuth helps many people with diarrhea. One side effect of bismuth is that it turns the stool black. Another nonprescription drug used is loperamide.
Prescription drugs used to treat diarrhea include opioids, codeine, and diphenoxylate. Bulking agents used for chronic constipation, such as psyllium and methylcellulose, can sometimes help relieve chronic diarrhea as well.
Treatment of diarrhea depends on its cause. Most people with diarrhea only have to remove the cause and suppress the diarrhea until the body heals itself. For example, diarrhea is sometimes cured when a person eliminates foods that have recently been added to the diet.
Diarrhea tends to cause dehydration if it lasts more than a day or two. As long as the person is not vomiting and does not feel nauseated, drinking fluids containing a balance of water, sugars, and salts can be very effective. One example of such a fluid is 8 ounces of fruit juice mixed with a teaspoon of corn syrup or honey and a pinch of salt, followed by 8 ounces of water mixed with a half-teaspoon of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate).
