What is the best medication to take for diarrhea?
Disease description:
When the weather gets hot, people tend to eat cold foods, which might lead to continuous diarrhea. If diarrhea occurs frequently due to unhygienic eating habits, it can be quite troublesome. Doctor, what is the best medication for treating diarrhea?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Shen Yonghua
Medications for treating diarrhea can be categorized into the following groups:
1. Antidiarrheal agents: Such as loperamide, which slows intestinal motility and reduces the frequency of bowel movements. However, they are not suitable for infectious diarrhea, as they may worsen the condition.
2. Antibiotics: For diarrhea clearly caused by bacterial infections, such as traveler's diarrhea or food poisoning, doctors may prescribe appropriate antibiotics. However, antibiotics should not be used without medical guidance to avoid drug resistance or adverse reactions.
3. Antiviral medications: For diarrhea caused by viral infections, such as rotavirus or norovirus, antiviral drugs are required. The selection and use of antiviral drugs must strictly follow medical advice to avoid self-medication.
4. Mucosal protectants: Such as sucralfate chewable tablets, compound glutamine enteric-coated capsules, etc. These medications help maintain the absorptive and secretory functions of intestinal cells, enhance intestinal barrier function, and prevent attacks from pathogenic microorganisms.
When facing diarrhea, scientifically appropriate management includes selecting the correct medications, maintaining good dietary habits, timely rehydration and electrolyte replacement, and seeking medical evaluation when necessary.
