Anti-Diarrheal Preparations

Anti-Diarrheal Preparations

Diarrhea is a major cause of death, especially in developing countries. While diarrhea is a very common illness, it becomes a cause of serious concern when severe dehydration sets in. Diarrhea is the passage of 3 or more loose, watery stools per day. Whether acute or chronic, it is due to hypermotility of the colon or due to disturbances in fluid and electrolytes in the intestine. Much of the weight of a stool is made up of water. Thus, during the course of diarrhea, a lot of water is lost from the body. This is the reason why people get dehydrated during this illness. Diarrhea has many causes, and treatment lies in addressing the particular factor that is actually causing it.

In most cases, diarrhea signs and symptoms usually last a couple of days. But sometimes diarrhea can last for weeks. In these situations, diarrhea can be a sign of a serious disorder, such as inflammatory bowel disease, or a less serious condition, such as irritable bowel syndrome.

Medicines like Pepto Bismol, Gas-ex, Imodium, H2 blockers and Emetrol can help with the pain. It is important to find out if you suffer from acidity, because things like citrus foods / juices, carbonated beverages, alcohol and caffeine are to be strictly avoided from your diet. Visit your doctor if your stomach pain and diarrhea don't go away within a week's time.

Symptoms of Diarrhea
Symptoms of diarrhea can be broken down into uncomplicated (or non-serious) diarrhea and complicated diarrhea. Complicated diarrhea may be a sign of a more serious illness.

Symptoms of uncomplicated diarrhea include:
• Abdominal bloating or cramps
• Thin or loose stools
• Watery stool
• Sense of urgency to have a bowel movement
• Nausea and vomiting

In addition to the symptoms described above, the symptoms of complicated diarrhea include:
• Blood, mucus, or undigested food in the stool
• Weight loss
• Fever

Common causes of diarrhea include:
• Viruses: Viruses that can cause diarrhea include Norwalk virus, cytomegalovirus and viral hepatitis. Rotavirus is a common cause of acute childhood diarrhea.

• Bacteria and parasites: Contaminated food or water can transmit bacteria and parasites to your body. Parasites such as Giardia lamblia and cryptosporidium can cause diarrhea.

Common bacterial causes of diarrhea include campylobacter, salmonella, shigella and Escherichia coli. Diarrhea caused by bacteria and parasites can be common when traveling in developing countries and is often called traveler's diarrhea.

• Medications: Many medications can cause diarrhea. The most common are antibiotics. Antibiotics destroy both good and bad bacteria, which can disturb the natural balance of bacteria in your intestines. This disturbance sometimes leads to an infection with bacteria called Clostridium difficile, which also can cause diarrhea.

• Lactose intolerance: Lactose is a sugar found in milk and other dairy products. Many people have difficulty digesting lactose and experience diarrhea after eating dairy products.

Your body makes an enzyme that helps digest lactose, but for most people, the levels of this enzyme drop off rapidly after childhood. This causes an increased risk of lactose intolerance as you age.

• Fructose: Fructose, a sugar found naturally in fruits and honey and added as a sweetener to some beverages, can cause diarrhea in people who have trouble digesting it.

• Artificial sweeteners: Sorbitol and mannitol, artificial sweeteners found in chewing gum and other sugar-free products, can cause diarrhea in some otherwise healthy people.

• Surgery: Some people may experience diarrhea after undergoing abdominal surgery or gallbladder removal surgery.

• Other digestive disorders: Chronic diarrhea has a number of other causes, such as Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, celiac disease, microscopic colitis and irritable bowel syndrome.

Treatments for Diarrhoea
The most important aspect of treating diarrhoea involves avoiding dehydration and replacing lost fluid. Because plain water does not contain sugar, sodium, or potassium, which are also lost in diarrhoea, it is important to consume plenty of fluids that contain these substances. Examples of appropriate drinks include water, prepared re-hydration solutions, chicken or beef soup. Fruit juice or fizzy drinks can make diarrhoea worse in children.

If you also are vomiting, try taking tiny amounts of liquid every 15 minutes. After you are able to hold down liquids, you can advance to a bland, soft diet.

You may be asked to avoid fats, sweets, coffee, and milk products until you are completely over the diarrhoea.

Effective antidiarrhoeal medicines such as loperamide, that works by slowing down the muscle movements in the gut, are available over the counter for adults and children over 12. This medicine shouldn’t be used if breastfeeding. Pharmacists can advise on suitable products.

Seek medical advice before using anti-diarrhoea medicines if there is blood in the poo,a high temperature or other symptoms, and in the case of severe or persistent diarrhoea in a child under 12.
 

In severe diarrhoea due to infectious bacteria, your doctor may advise taking antibiotics to help resolve the symptoms. However, antibiotics won't help with viral diarrhoea, which is the most common type of infectious diarrhoea.

Preventing diarrhoea
To prevent diarrhoea caused by infection, you should take steps to prevent the infection spreading. For example, make sure you:

• Wash your hands thoroughly after going to the toilet and before eating or preparing food
• Clean the toilet, including the handle and the seat, with disinfectant after each bout of diarrhoea
• Avoid sharing towels, flannels, cutlery or utensils with other household members
• Stay at home until at least 48 hours after the last episode of diarrhoea

Home Remedies on for Upset Stomach and Diarrhea
• Elevate your legs while lying down with a bunch of pillows to help keep it up, which could lessen the intensity of the stomach ache.

• Drink plenty of water when experiencing diarrhea, it helps you visit the bathroom more often to get rid of loose stool.

• For a troublesome stomach pain attack, drink some ginger ale to help soothe the sensations.

• Eat plenty of fruits and veggies to give your system enough fiber to solidify your stool gradually.

• It is good to have a hot water bottle that you can pour water into to use as a stomach pain easer. Place this against your tummy while sitting or lying down, to help with the pain.

• Going to the bathroom as often as you can to empty your bowel system will do you good, so avoid holding it in.

• To give your stomach some acidity to decrease pain levels in the stomach from the lack of it, drink a glass of milk twice a day or eat a container of yogurt before heading to bed.

• Drink a cup of chamomile tea which will help your system restore digestive functions.

• If you have acidity problems, avoid drinking milk / yogurt or it will only worsen the pain. It is important to know exactly what is wrong with your stomach before acting out on a remedy. Drink hot water instead if acidity troubles are the one to blame.

• Drink a glass of carbonated water once everyday to help with stomach indigestion problems and diarrhea.

• Take a mild laxative like castor oil to empty out your system naturally to help relieve stomach pain.

• In times of stress, calm yourself down with meditation or deep breathing exercises before eating or drinking anything. It can cause a lot of stomach related problems if you eat / drink with a troubled mind.

Myotcstore Related Products:

Kaopectate Extra Strength Liquid for Anti-Diarrheal Peppermint - 8 Oz

Pepto Bismol Original AntiDiarrheal Upset stomach Liquid - 12 Oz

Rising floranex antidiarrheal agents granules packets - 12 ea

Preferred Plus Anti-diarrheal Loperamide HCI Soft Gelatin 2 Mg Capsules - 24 Softgels

Imodium A-D Anti-Diarrheal Mint Flavor Liquid for Ages 6 Years and up - 4 Oz