The Best 8 Go-To Treatments for Diarrhea

If you know, you know! Diarrhea is something that has affected probably all of us at some point or another! Whether you ate food or drink that upset your stomach, traveled somewhere new, got a stomach virus, or took medication that gave it to you, you’ve felt that urge and had to run to the toilet. Even stress and anxiety can contribute to diarrhea since the brain and the gut are linked. Diarrhea can also be a chronic, or long-term issue for some. Let’s look at a few go-to diarrhea treatments when those days hit us.

1. Electrolytes

When you have diarrhea, you lose a lot of water and electrolytes at the same time. A go-to electrolyte replacement for many years has been Pedialyte, which is designed specifically for needs during sickness like diarrhea and vomiting. Dehydration is a serious side effect of diarrhea, so the first thing is to make sure you are well-hydrated. See my other post on Electrolytes and Dehydration here. After we get the electrolytes going, then let’s talk about treating the actual diarrhea.

2. Florastor

This is a powerhouse probiotic called saccharomyces boulardii – a type of live yeast. Regular popular probiotics are made with bacteria. Florastor is made with yeast and that’s what makes it #1. Florastor survives in the body (when a lot of probiotics just die) all the way until it reaches the gut, where it works there on many things, helping to heal the gut lining and also fight bad cells and bad bacteria. It’s a little warrior! Here is a strong published article on Florastor a.k.a. S. boulardii. It’s useful in helping all diarrhea episodes and also from antibiotics, C. diff infection, traveler’s diarrhea, and even Crohn’s Disease. Consider adding it to your repertoire!

3. Imodium

Also known as loperamide hydrochloride in the generic form, this over-the-counter medicine is a true lifesaver when severe diarrhea occurs. Imodium/loperamide stops the muscle spasms of the intestines that happens during diarrhea which really helps with sharp abdominal cramps and pain that are often present. This calms the intestines, settles down the reactions, and stops the diarrhea. The body can then reabsorb the water and electrolytes.

4. Yogurt and Other Probiotics

Yogurt and “probiotics” have gained super popularity in their help of restoring the good bacteria back into the gut after it was wiped out from diarrhea. Common probiotic strains come from bacteria in classes called Lactobacillus and Streptococcus. Acidophilus and Bifidobacterium are some of the well-known strains. Eating a bit of yogurt during diarrhea will give you some nutrients like protein and calcium as well as the gut-building probiotic help. Eat just plain, regular yogurt. No sugar or flavors. Culturelle and Align are popular over-the-counter probiotics that have some evidence in specifically helping with diarrhea.

5. IBgard

This over-the-counter supplement uses very pure peppermint oil that travels down to the gut, and there it relaxes the muscles and calms down the activity. IBgard can help with those sharp abdominal pains that go with diarrhea and it also soothes the gut lining. Like Imodium, it helps with the symptoms of diarrhea, it doesn’t treat the problem.

6. Digest Extra

Are you about to eat something that you know will upset your stomach? Take a digestive enzyme with it at the same time! I have done this with greasy food that I want to eat, but that I know I’ll pay for it later on the toilet. Digestive enzymes, I like the one called Digest Extra from Vitamin Shoppe, contain specific enzymes that help you break down food. They help the system break down protein, gluten, starches, carbs, grains, lactose, and fat. This might help your body handle the food without the upset that normally happens. You can also try these enzymes if you have just a stubborn digestive issue that you can’t figure out.

7. Banatrol

I discovered this medical food supplement when reading about support during chemo, infections, and medication side effects. This uses the gel-like fiber from bananas and adds in a prebiotic that helps thicken stool. Together, Banatrol helps to absorb water and electrolytes from the gut and this helps reduce the watery stools. This supplement can really come into consideration when struggling with chronic diarrhea.

8. BRAT diet

• Bananas
• Rice
• Applesauce
• Toast

This simple bland diet is well-known for being gentle on digestion as the digestive system is recovering. Adding in boiled chicken, chicken noodle soup, simple cooked vegetable soup, crackers, and plain yogurt are also great remedies. Avoid spices and acidic foods. Of course this diet is only temporary when the body is recovering from a stomach virus or episodes of severe diarrhea. The BRAT diet is especially useful in any gastro-intestinal (GI) upset where you are sick temporarily.