What if you have diarrhea for years?

What if you have diarrhea for years?

“After an episode of infectious diarrhea, the diarrhea can persist for several months to years because the gut flora and motility has been altered — that’s what we call post-infectious diarrhea or post-infectious IBS.”

Can diarrhea last for years?

Other people, however, live with diarrhea that persists for more than two to four weeks . This is called chronic diarrhea. Acute, or short-term, diarrhea usually isn’t serious. But chronic loose, watery stools can lead to problems if left untreated.

What happens if you can’t stop having diarrhea?

Although dehydration is the biggest worry with diarrhea, it’s not the only one. If diarrhea persists beyond a few days, complications, including kidney and urinary problems, can arise. It could also be a symptom of a more serious condition, like Crohn’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), or signs of an infection.

What can Prolonged untreated diarrhea cause?

Diarrhea can cause dehydration, which can be life-threatening if untreated. Dehydration is particularly dangerous in children, older adults and those with weakened immune systems. If you have signs of serious dehydration, seek medical help.

What do doctors prescribe for severe diarrhea?

Popular Diarrhea Drugs

• Sulfatrim. sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim. $6.38.
• Bactrim. sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim. $6.38.
• Flagyl. metronidazole. $7.77.
• Lomotil. diphenoxylate / atropine. $31.52.
• loperamide. $23.38.
• Xifaxan. $1,977.99.
• Vancocin. vancomycin. $9.13.
• Firvanq. $152.73.

How long is too long for diarrhea?

Most cases of diarrhea are nothing more than a brief inconvenience. But sometimes, they warn of a serious condition. Talk with your doctor if your child has diarrhea for more than 24 hours. If you have it for more than 3 days, make an appointment.

Is chronic diarrhea bad?

Complications. If you have chronic diarrhea, you can experience serious health problems, even if your diarrhea is caused by a situation that isn’t dangerous, such as a food allergy.

What is the strongest medicine for diarrhea?

1. Loperamide. Loperamide is one of the best-known anti-diarrheal medicines. It slows down the digestive process in your bowels, which allows food to stay in your system for a longer period of time.

What tablets help diarrhea?

Two types of meds relieve diarrhea in different ways:

• Loperamide (Imodium) slows the movement of food through your intestines, which lets your body absorb more liquid.
• Bismuth subsalicylate (Kaopectate, Pepto-Bismol) balances out how fluid moves through your digestive tract.

What is the fastest way to stop diarrhea?

Over-the-counter medicine is one of the fastest ways to stop diarrhea. Try a medication such as Imodium, DiaClear, Kaopectate or Pepto-Bismol. However, they can cause side effects, such as headaches or nausea.

What is the best medicine to stop diarrhea?

The most common medicines used to treat diarrhea are loperamide (Imodium), atropine/diphenoxylate (Lomotil) and bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol). These have the potential to stop diarrhea; however, they do not treat the underlying cause, and as soon as the effects of the medicine wear off, your diarrhea will return.

What foods help diarrhea go away?

Yogurt is a great food to help you get rid of diarrhea. Make sure that your yogurt is natural without artificial sweeteners and flavorings and that it contains live active cultures (probiotics) like lactobacillus acidophilus and bifidobacterium .

What can you eat to prevent diarrhea?

Eat foods that are high in pectin, such as applesauce, bananas, and yogurt. Pectin , a water-soluble fiber, helps reduce diarrhea. Eat foods that have a lot of potassium, such as fruit juices, sports drinks, potatoes without the skin, and bananas. Potassium is often lost through diarrhea.