Medications

The use of anti-motility medication, although controversial, is available for the relief of diarrhea. It slows down your intestinal movement. These familiar medications include loperamide (Imodium) and bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol) and kaolin pectin suspension (Kaopectate).

• Such medications are not recommended for infants and children younger than 5 years.
  
  
• In otherwise healthy adults who are not severely ill with diarrhea, loperamide is probably safe and is effective in decreasing the number of stools per day and the total duration of the diarrhea.
  
  
• Bismuth subsalicylate is also effective and may be more effective than loperamide when you have vomiting as well as diarrhea.
  
  
• Adults with other serious medical problems and those with severe diarrhea (high fever, abdominal pain, or bloody stool) should see a health care provider before using either medication.

Electrolyte solutions are available to prevent dehydration.

• Oral electrolyte solutions are available at grocery and drug stores (Pedialyte, Rehydralyte, Naturalyte Solution).
  
  
• Follow label directions, which may specify 1 teaspoonful every 15 minutes for 30 minutes. If the child retains the initial doses, increase the dose to 1 tablespoonful every 15 minutes until the diarrhea stops.

Learn more about medications like loperamide (Imodium) on RxList.com.