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Medications for Diarrhea, Chronic

Other names: Chronic Diarrhea

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on Dec 4, 2023.

Chronic diarrhea is usually defined as having three or more loose stools a day regularly for more than four weeks. Treatments may depend on the underlying cause but can include:

For persistent diarrhea related to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D), prescription options include alosetron (Lotronex), eluxadoline (Viberzi), or rifaximin (Xifaxan).

A fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) may be considered for people experiencing chronic diarrhea due to Clostridium difficile.

Drugs used to treat Diarrhea, Chronic

The following list of medications are in some way related to or used in the treatment of this condition.

Filter
Drug name Rating Reviews Activity ? Rx/OTC Pregnancy CSA Alcohol
alosetron Rate Add review
Rx B N
Generic name:
alosetron systemic
Drug class:
serotoninergic neuroenteric modulators
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
eluxadoline Rate Add review
Rx 4 X
Generic name:
eluxadoline systemic
Drug class:
peripheral opioid receptor mixed agonists/antagonists
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph
psyllium Rate Add review
OTC N N
Generic name:
psyllium systemic
Drug class:
laxatives
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
Bismatrol Rate Add review
Rx/OTC N N
Generic name:
bismuth subsalicylate systemic
Drug class:
antidiarrheals
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
Bismatrol Maximum Strength Rate Add review
Rx/OTC N N
Generic name:
bismuth subsalicylate systemic
Drug class:
antidiarrheals
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
Peptic Relief Rate Add review
Rx/OTC N N
Generic name:
bismuth subsalicylate systemic
Drug class:
antidiarrheals
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
Pink Bismuth Rate Add review
Rx/OTC N N
Generic name:
bismuth subsalicylate systemic
Drug class:
antidiarrheals
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
rifaximin Rate Add review
Rx C N
Generic name:
rifaximin systemic
Drug class:
miscellaneous antibiotics
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph
Bismarex Rate Add review
Rx/OTC N N
Generic name:
bismuth subsalicylate systemic
Drug class:
antidiarrheals
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
Kaopectate Rate Add review
Rx/OTC N N
Generic name:
bismuth subsalicylate systemic
Drug class:
antidiarrheals
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
Up and Up Anti-Diarrheal Solution Rate Add review
Rx/OTC C N X
Generic name:
loperamide systemic
Drug class:
antidiarrheals
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
bismuth subsalicylate 5.8 4 reviews for bismuth subsalicylate to treat Diarrhea, Chronic
Rx/OTC N N
Generic name:
bismuth subsalicylate systemic
Brand names:
Pepto-Bismol, Kaopectate, Bismarex, Bismatrol, Bismatrol Maximum Strength, Peptic Relief, Pink Bismuth
Drug class:
antidiarrheals
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
atropine / difenoxin 10 1 review for atropine / difenoxin to treat Diarrhea, Chronic
Rx C 4 X
Generic name:
atropine / difenoxin systemic
Brand name:
Motofen
Drug class:
antidiarrheals
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
Diamode Rate Add review
Rx/OTC C N X
Generic name:
loperamide systemic
Drug class:
antidiarrheals
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
Pepto-Bismol 5.7 3 reviews for Pepto-Bismol to treat Diarrhea, Chronic
Rx/OTC N N
Generic name:
bismuth subsalicylate systemic
Drug class:
antidiarrheals
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
Anti-Diarrheal 6.0 1 review for Anti-Diarrheal to treat Diarrhea, Chronic
Rx/OTC C N X
Generic name:
loperamide systemic
Drug class:
antidiarrheals
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Motofen 10 1 review for Motofen to treat Diarrhea, Chronic
Rx C 4 X
Generic name:
atropine / difenoxin systemic
Drug class:
antidiarrheals
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Imodium A-D 7.0 3 reviews for Imodium A-D to treat Diarrhea, Chronic
Rx/OTC C N X
Generic name:
loperamide systemic
Drug class:
antidiarrheals
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
colesevelam 9.2 89 reviews for colesevelam to treat Diarrhea, Chronic
Rx B N
Generic name:
colesevelam systemic
Drug class:
bile acid sequestrants
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
Imodium 9.0 12 reviews for Imodium to treat Diarrhea, Chronic
Rx/OTC C N X
Generic name:
loperamide systemic
Drug class:
antidiarrheals
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
loperamide 8.7 24 reviews for loperamide to treat Diarrhea, Chronic
Rx/OTC C N X
Generic name:
loperamide systemic
Brand names:
Imodium, Imodium A-D, Anti-Diarrheal, Diamode, Up and Up Anti-Diarrheal Solution
Drug class:
antidiarrheals
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information

Alternative treatments for Diarrhea, Chronic

The following products are considered to be alternative treatments or natural remedies for Diarrhea, Chronic. Their efficacy may not have been scientifically tested to the same degree as the drugs listed in the table above. However there may be historical, cultural or anecdotal evidence linking their use to the treatment of Diarrhea, Chronic.

Learn more about Diarrhea, Chronic

Care guides

Legend

Rating For ratings, users were asked how effective they found the medicine while considering positive/adverse effects and ease of use (1 = not effective, 10 = most effective).
Activity Activity is based on recent site visitor activity relative to other medications in the list.
Rx Prescription only.
OTC Over-the-counter.
Rx/OTC Prescription or Over-the-counter.
Off-label This medication may not be approved by the FDA for the treatment of this condition.
EUA An Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) allows the FDA to authorize unapproved medical products or unapproved uses of approved medical products to be used in a declared public health emergency when there are no adequate, approved, and available alternatives.
Expanded Access Expanded Access is a potential pathway for a patient with a serious or immediately life-threatening disease or condition to gain access to an investigational medical product (drug, biologic, or medical device) for treatment outside of clinical trials when no comparable or satisfactory alternative therapy options are available.
Pregnancy Category
A Adequate and well-controlled studies have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus in the first trimester of pregnancy (and there is no evidence of risk in later trimesters).
B Animal reproduction studies have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women.
C Animal reproduction studies have shown an adverse effect on the fetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in humans, but potential benefits may warrant use in pregnant women despite potential risks.
D There is positive evidence of human fetal risk based on adverse reaction data from investigational or marketing experience or studies in humans, but potential benefits may warrant use in pregnant women despite potential risks.
X Studies in animals or humans have demonstrated fetal abnormalities and/or there is positive evidence of human fetal risk based on adverse reaction data from investigational or marketing experience, and the risks involved in use in pregnant women clearly outweigh potential benefits.
N FDA has not classified the drug.
Controlled Substances Act (CSA) Schedule
M The drug has multiple schedules. The schedule may depend on the exact dosage form or strength of the medication.
U CSA Schedule is unknown.
N Is not subject to the Controlled Substances Act.
1 Has a high potential for abuse. Has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. There is a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision.
2 Has a high potential for abuse. Has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States or a currently accepted medical use with severe restrictions. Abuse may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence.
3 Has a potential for abuse less than those in schedules 1 and 2. Has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse may lead to moderate or low physical dependence or high psychological dependence.
4 Has a low potential for abuse relative to those in schedule 3. It has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to those in schedule 3.
5 Has a low potential for abuse relative to those in schedule 4. Has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to those in schedule 4.
Alcohol
X Interacts with Alcohol.

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.