- 1. Loperamide
- 2. Racecadotrila
- 3. Saccharomyces boulardii
- 4. Oral rehydration solutions
- Remedies for childhood diarrhea
- Home remedy for diarrhea
- When to go to the doctor
There are several drugs that can be used to treat diarrhea, which have different mechanisms of action, and which are prescribed taking into account the cause that may be at its origin, the person's health status, the symptoms presented and the type of diarrhea that presents.
Some of the remedies that the doctor can prescribe to help treat diarrhea are:
1. Loperamide
Loperamide is a medication that reduces the peristaltic movements of the intestine, increasing the time of intestinal transit and making the stool stay longer in the intestine, thus providing the absorption of a greater amount of water, making the stool less liquid. In addition, it also increases the tone of the anal sphincter, reducing the feeling of urgency and fecal incontinence.
This medication can be used to treat acute or chronic diarrhea, as long as the person does not have an associated infection. Some drugs that have loperamide in their composition are Diasec, Intestin, Imosec or Kaosec, for example. Learn how to take loperamide.
Side effects: Generally, loperamide is well tolerated, however, side effects such as increased intestinal gas, constipation, nausea and dizziness may occur.
2. Racecadotrila
Racecadotril works by inhibiting encephalinases in the intestine, which are enzymes that inactivate encephalins. By inhibiting these enzymes, it allows enkephalins to exert their action. Encephalins are neurotransmitters that reduce the intestinal hypersecretion of water and electrolytes in the intestine and, therefore, help to make stools more solid, helping to stop diarrhea.
This medication can be used to treat acute diarrhea. Some drugs with racecadotril in their composition are Avide and Tiorfan, for example. Learn how to use racecadotril.
Side effects: Some of the most common side effects that can occur with the use of racecadotril are headache and redness of the skin.
3. Saccharomyces boulardii
This medication can be used as an aid in the treatment of diarrhea of different causes. It is a probiotic, which means that it is a living microorganism that contributes to the intestinal bacterial balance, controlling diarrhea.
Some medicines that have Saccharomyces boulardii in their composition are Floratil and Repoflor, for example. Learn how to take this medicine.
Side effects: Generally, this medication is well tolerated and there are no side effects, however in some children or newborns a smell of yeast in the stool can be felt, without any harmful meaning.
In addition to Saccharomyces boulardii, there are other probiotics that can be used to regulate intestinal flora, such as Enterogermina, Bifilac or Bidrilac, for example.
4. Oral rehydration solutions
During a bout of diarrhea it is very important to drink plenty of fluids in order to avoid dehydration. For this, there are oral rehydration solutions, such as Floralyte, for example, which can be purchased at pharmacies.
These drugs should only be used with medical advice, as it is important to know the cause of the diarrhea before taking them. Usually, in the case of diarrhea with infection, in which fever and severe abdominal pain appear, some of these remedies should not be used, as they decrease the body's natural response to eliminate microorganisms through the stool.
Watch the following video and learn what to eat during a diarrhea attack:
Remedies for childhood diarrhea
The most suitable remedies for diarrhea in children or babies are mainly probiotics. In addition, the doctor may also prescribe Tiorfan in a dose adapted for children.
Anyway, these remedies should only be taken with the indication of the pediatrician and to avoid dehydration it is also recommended to drink oral serum, which can be purchased at the pharmacy or prepared at home.
Learn about the remedies used to treat diarrhea in children.
Home remedy for diarrhea
The home remedies that can be used to treat diarrhea are teas, juices, syrups or porridge with food or medicinal plants, which have properties that help to calm the intestine and stop diarrhea.
Some examples of these remedies are chamomile tea, apple syrup, guava tea or apple juice, for example. Here's how to make some of these home remedies.
When to go to the doctor
It is advisable to go to the doctor when the diarrhea has blood or pus and if it is accompanied by fever or vomiting.
In addition, it is also important to see your doctor if the diarrhea persists for more than 3 or 4 weeks, as it may be indicative of chronic diarrhea, which can be caused by food intolerances or inflammatory bowel diseases, such as Crohn's disease or diverticulitis, for example.
