Diarrhea is a symptom that can occur for various reasons. Unhealthy diet is considered the most common cause, but in addition, diarrhea can be caused by food poisoning, stress, chronic predisposition or an infectious disease. When prescribing drugs for diarrhea, a doctor takes into account the reasons that caused the body’s reaction. A correct diagnosis allows a doctor to prescribe an effective treatment. Let us take a look at the most effective and inexpensive diarrhea medicines you can take at home.
Classification Top 2020 Diarrhea Meds
Fast-acting remedies for diarrhea are divided into 4 groups:
- Probiotics – drugs that are used to relieve the symptoms of dysbiosis, one of which is diarrhea;
- Medicines aimed at slowing down the undulating contractions of the walls of the rectum – peristalsis;
- Antibiotics that eliminate the cause of diarrhea – intestinal infections;
- Enterosorbents are remediesfor binding exogenous and endogenous substances in the gastrointestinal tract by increasing adsorption, absorption, complexation and ion exchange.
Probiotics for diarrhea
Probiotics are products containing microorganisms natural for the human intestinal microflora. When microflora is disturbed – dysbiosis, probiotics help restore the balance of microorganisms, which leads to normalization of the stool. There are many probiotics recommended for diarrhea.
1) Linex
This product in capsules belongs to the class of eubiotics, and it restores the intestinal microflora. The product is available in capsules, and one capsule contains millions of live bacteria. They make up the normal microflora of the human intestine. It is known that the presence of these microorganisms in the human intestine inhibits the growth of pathogenic bacteria, takes part in the synthesis of vitamins and increases immunity.
The product must be taken after meals and drunk with a small amount of liquid. Usually adults are prescribed 2 capsules three times a day, and babies who do not know how to swallow capsules need to be opened, and a powder mixed with liquid is already given. The duration of treatment is not limited and can be continued as long as needed. Do not combine the drug with alcoholic beverages or drink it with hot water.
2) Hylak Forte
This is an effective Germanic antidiarrheal agent, produced in the form of drops. Taking the drug helps to normalize the intestinal microflora, preserves its physiological and biological functions, restores the normal level of acidity in the digestive tract.
Hylak Forte can be used for diarrhea caused by taking antibiotics, gastroenteritis, colitis, allergies, salmonellosis. It is effectively used to treat traveler’s diarrhea caused by climate change and exotic foods. The drug can be used to treat children and pregnant women, as well as during breastfeeding. He practically has no counterindications, except for hypersensitivity to its components.
Hylak Forte is well tolerated by patients of different ages. Allergic reactions in the form of skin itching and rashes are extremely rare. You should not take the drug along with milk and products based on it. The drug does not require refrigeration.
Symptomatic treatment of diarrhea
Loperamide binding to opioidsother receptors of the intestinal wall (stimulation of choline and adrenergic neurons through guanine nucleotides), reduces the tone and motility of intestinal smooth muscles (by inhibiting the release of acetylcholine). The drug slows down peristalsis and increases the transit time of intestinal contents. Increases the tone of the anal sphincter, contributes to the retention of feces and the reduction of the urge to defecate. The action develops quickly and lasts 4-6 hours.
Method of administration and dosage is as follows: take the drug without chewing, with a small amount of liquid. In acute diarrhea, adults – 4 mg, children over 8 years old – 2 mg, and after each amorphous stool – 2 mg. The daily dose for adults is no more than 16 mg, for children over 8 years old – no more than 8 mg. For chronic diarrhea, respectively, 4 mg and 2 mg per day. If no clinical improvement is observed 48 hours after the start of treatment, the drug should be discontinued.
Antibiotics for diarrhea
Antibiotics for diarrhea are taken only when the cause of the diarrhea is accurately determined. If this problem the stool is caused by an intra-intestinal bacterial infection, only then taking antibiotics is a reasonable solution. Visually, the presence of an intestinal infection can be determined by the characteristic impurities in the feces: mucus and bloody greenish blotches.
In such cases, the following antibiotic medications are prescribed:
1) Amoxicillin
A chloramphenicol-based antibiotic is commonly prescribed for patients with persistent diarrhea. The active substance destroys a wide range of pathogenic microflora, including those pathogens that have developed resistance to the action of tetracycline antibiotics. The drug is prescribed for the treatment of infectious diarrhea. With a convenient center for online purchase of meds from any country, Trust pharmacy, it is possible to order amoxicillin and get it delivered without waiting in long queues. Patients usually need advice from a pharmacist, on how to substitute an expensive medicine with a cheaper analogue, so this webstore provides you with good products and proficient expertise. Please note this remedy can provoke adverse reactions from various body systems, therefore, contraindications for admission should be clarified before use. Among them are renal and hepatic failure, pregnancy, individual intolerance to the active substance.
2) Nifuroxazide
Antimicrobial agent based on nifuroxazide provides a pronounced bacteriostatic effect against staphylococci, streptococci, salmonella, shigella, enterobacteria, and inhibits the production of toxins that poison the body. With diarrhea of viral origin, it reduces the risk of bacterial superinfection. Adults are recommended to take this medicine in capsules, for children, it is released in the form of a dispersion.
Enterosorbents for diarrhea
The use of enterosorbents is considered one of the most effective remedies for diarrhea caused by poisoning. The action of this group of drugs is aimed at absorbing toxic substances that have entered the gastrointestinal tract from the outside.
The most popular enterosorbents are:
1) Activated carbon
Activated carbon is one of the cheapest, available and fastest-acting agents. This is a truly folk remedy, for the use of which there are many indications. For diarrhea, activated charcoal can be used immediately, since it is indicated, both for various forms of salmonellosis and dysentery, and for non-infectious causes of diarrhea and food poisoning.
2) Smecta
Smecta, or dioctahedral smectite, is an antidiarrheal agent and absorbent, and it got into the rating of drugs as aluminosilicate of natural origin. Like many other sorbents, it is cleared from the body unchanged, and does not enter into metabolism. It is used by children and adults with acute diarrhea and chronic diarrhea of various origins, including infectious. It is also successfully prescribed for bloating and abdominal discomfort.