Giardiasis (cont.)
IN THIS ARTICLE
- Giardiasis Overview
- Giardiasis Causes
- Giardiasis Symptoms
- When to Seek Medical Care
- Exams and Tests
- Giardiasis Treatment
- Self-Care at Home
- Medications
- Next Steps
- Follow-up
- Prevention
- Outlook
- Synonyms and Keywords
- Authors and Editors
Giardiasis Treatment
Self-Care at Home
- Drink fluids such as sports drinks, diluted fruit juices, flat soda (such as 7-Up or ginger ale, none with caffeine), broth, soups, or preparations such as Pedialyte for children. Fluids should be taken in small amounts frequently throughout the day. Avoid fluids containing caffeine.
- Suck on ice chips to keep from becoming dehydrated if you cannot keep fluids down.
- After 12 hours, the diet can be advanced to bland foods such as potatoes, noodles, rice, toast, cereal, crackers, and boiled vegetables. Avoid spicy, greasy, and fried foods.
- After stools become formed, return to a regular diet. Avoid milk for several weeks.
- If you do not have fever or bloody diarrhea, you may take over-the-counter medications (along with antimicrobial prescription medications from your doctor). Loperamide is usually effective and should be taken as instructed on the label. Common nonprescription medications containing loperamide are Imodium, Kaopectate, and Pepto Diarrhea Control.
Next: Medications »
Important Safety Information
- KAPIDEX may not be right for everyone. You should not take KAPIDEX if you are allergic to KAPIDEX or any of its ingredients. Severe allergic reactions have been reported.
- Symptom relief does not rule out other serious stomach conditions.
- The most common side effects of KAPIDEX were diarrhea (4.8%), stomach pain (4.0%), nausea (2.9%), common cold (1.9%), vomiting (1.6%), and gas (1.6%). KAPIDEX and certain other medicines can affect each other. Before taking KAPIDEX, tell your doctor if you are taking ampicillin, atazanavir, digoxin, iron, ketoconazole, or tacrolimus. If you are taking KAPIDEX with warfarin, you may need to be monitored because serious risks could occur.
Uses of KAPIDEX
- Persistent heartburn two or more days a week, despite treatment and diet changes, could be acid reflux disease (ARD). Prescription KAPIDEX capsules are used in adults to treat heartburn related to ARD, to heal acid-related damage to the lining of the esophagus (called erosive esophagitis or EE), and to stop EE from coming back. Individual results may vary. Most damage (erosions) heals in 4–8 weeks.
Talk to your doctor or healthcare professional. Please see full Prescribing Information for KAPIDEX.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
KAPIDEX™ is a trademark of Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America, Inc., and is used under license by Takeda Pharmaceuticals America, Inc.
LPD-00767
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Giardiasis »
Giardia lamblia was originally identified by von Leeuwenhoek in the 1600s and was first recognized in human stool by Vilem Dusan Lambl (1824-1895) in 1859 and by Alfred Giard (1846-1908) after whom it is named.

