In most cases, diarrhea can be treated at home with plenty of liquids to replace lost fluids and electrolytes. The BRAT diet — bananas, rice, apple sauce, and toast — can also help ease symptoms. Potatoes, peanut butter, and skinless chicken or turkey are also other good food choices.
Best Foods for Diarrhea in the Elderly
Unseasoned crackers. Probiotics (i.e. yogurt, miso, or sauerkraut) Water (especially those with electrolytes and minerals to restore the ones you lost)
In most cases, you can treat your acute diarrhea with over-the-counter medicines such as loperamide link (Imodium) and bismuth subsalicylate link (Pepto-Bismol, Kaopectate).
Diarrhea can be stopped quickly with OTC medicines such as loperamide (Imodium) and Pepto-Bismol (bismuth subsalicylate).
Loperamide is a medicine to treat diarrhoea (runny poo). It can help with short-term diarrhoea or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Loperamide is also used for recurring or longer lasting diarrhoea from bowel conditions such as Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis and short bowel syndrome.
Drinking water is the first step to rehydrating. A person can also to create an oral rehydration solution by mixing 1 liter of water with half a teaspoon of salt and 6 teaspoons of sugar. Consuming sugar and salt with water helps the intestines to absorb fluids more efficiently.
Macrocytosis (MCV >110 fL), diarrhea and neurologic symptoms strongly suggest vitamin B12 deficiency. Diarrhea from celiac sprue, bacterial overgrowth or pancreatic insufficiency can be seen with vitamin B12 deficiency because these are malabsorptive syndromes.
In general, elderly patients may be more susceptible to drug-associated effects of the QT interval. Avoid IMODIUM® in elderly patients taking drugs that can result in prolongation of the QT interval (for example, Class IA or III antiarrhythmics) or in patients with risk factors for Torsades de Pointes (see WARNINGS).
The most common and convenient solution for alleviating acute diarrhea is OTC medications, such as: Loperamide (Imodium): This medication slows down digestion so that the body can draw more water from the intestines. This helps to firm up stools and reduce the frequency of bowel movements.
Unless recommended otherwise by your doctor, you should stop taking Imodium as soon as your diarrhea resolves. But if your diarrhea doesn't get better within 2 days of starting Imodium, see your doctor. And don't take Imodium for longer than 48 hours unless directed by your doctor.
Stomach or bowel problems (eg, dysentery, enterocolitis caused by bacteria, pseudomembranous colitis, stomach pain without diarrhea, ulcerative colitis)—Should not be used in patients with these conditions.
Colon and small intestine
Diarrhea — loose, watery and possibly more-frequent bowel movements — is a common problem. It may be present alone or be associated with other symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain or weight loss.
The BRAT diet — bananas, rice, apple sauce, and toast — can also help ease symptoms. Potatoes, peanut butter, and skinless chicken or turkey are also other good food choices. (While recovering, avoid foods that can make diarrhea worse, such as raw fruits and vegetables, spicy foods, beans, or cabbage.)
Is it normal to have diarrhea all day every day? Chronic and frequent diarrhea is an everyday experience for some people, but under normal circumstances, it shouldn't be. Your colon, where poop is formed, is reacting to something abnormal. Some people have chronic bowel diseases that cause chronic diarrhea.
Yogurt can usually help with diarrhea. However, if you have an intolerance or allergy to lactose, it may worsen diarrhea. If you have diarrhea and would like to try yogurt as a home remedy, choose a brand that contains probiotics and is low in sugar.
Bananas. Starch in the fruit can help absorb water in your colon, which works to firm up your stool. Plus, it's rich in potassium, a key electrolyte you're losing with diarrhea.
Clinical experience suggests that opioids and opioid agonists are the most effective prescription medications for treatment of chronic diarrhea. Loperamide (Immodium) is a peripherally acting opioid that is recommended as first line therapy.
Pepto-Bismol is an OTC medication used to treat diarrhea in people ages 12 and older. Unlike Imodium A-D, it's also used to relieve other symptoms, including heartburn, indigestion, and nausea. Pepto-Bismol is available as a regular or chewable oral tablet, capsule, and liquid.
Since diarrhea is your body's way of getting rid of toxins, it is best to let it run its course. However, you may use over-the-counter antidiarrheal remedies for convenience, including: Attapulgite (Kaopectate) Loperamide (Imodium)
Speak to your GP if: You or your child has diarrhoea and: it's particularly frequent or severe. it lasts for more than 7 days.