Drugs Used in the Treatment of Diarrhea

Diarrhea is an increase in the frequency of bowel movements or in the looseness of the stool. The causes and symptoms may depend on your diet. Diarrhea is common and is often not a serious condition. It can be treated with various medications.

Types

• There are three types of diarrhea---osmotic, secretory and exudative. Osmotic diarrhea is when water from the body is drawn into the bowel. Secretory diarrhea is when the body releases excessive water into the bowel. Lastly, exudative diarrhea is the presence of blood in the stool.

Symptoms

• According to Mayoclinic.com, symptoms that may be associated with diarrhea include abdominal pain, abdominal cramps, fever, bloating and blood in the stool. Diarrhea is also often characterized by the looseness of stool, which may vary from slightly soft to watery.

Causes

• The most common cause of diarrhea is infection. It may be caused by a virus, bacteria or a parasite. In some cases, you may have diarrhea if you're starting a new medication.

Treatment

• There are three kinds of drugs used in the treatment of diarrhea. Absorbents help diarrhea by absorbing water present in the stool. They binds the water in the small intestines to produce stools that are less watery. Examples include equalactin and attapulgite.

  Anti-motility medications are drugs that help relax the intestinal tissues. This can slow down the activity of the digestive system thus decreasing bowel movement frequency and increasing water absorption. Drugs include loperamide and diphenoxylate.

  Bismuth compounds, such as Pepto-Bismol, contain antibiotic properties that fight the bacteria that cause diarrhea.

Warning

• Pepto-Bismol is not advisable for children under two years old, or for people with influenza, chickenpox and other viral infections. Diphenoxylate has side effects such as dizziness and drowsiness. Absorbents may cause constipation or bloating in some cases.