Common questions about diarrhea

Diarrhea is a symptom of disruption to your digestive system, and you might be surprised how easy it is to tip the sensitive balance.

When your digestive system is in its normal rhythm, food and fluid pass regularly from the stomach into the small intestine. Food is then broken down and nutrients are absorbed along with most of the fluid. The remaining waste and some water pass into the colon (large intestine) where more water is absorbed and finally the waste is passed in the form of stools.

When the cells in your small intestine or colon are irritated, the coordinated and regular movement of your intestines can become overactive. Essential salts and fluids end up being passed through the colon too quickly with less fluid being absorbed by the body. The result is loose or watery stools, commonly known as diarrhea.

According to our survey of over 2000 sufferers of frequent acute diarrhea in 14 countries, 84% of us feel weak and tired when suffering from acute diarrhea. This is no surprise when you consider the resulting loss of important fluids and salts from our body.²¹ So why leave it untreated when you can relieve diarrhea along with its uncomfortable symptoms and dehydrating effects?

IMODIUM™ contains an active ingredient called Loperamide, which works in harmony with your body to help restore your digestive system back to its natural rhythm, renewing the absorption of fluids and salts in your system.

Here’s what to do if you get diarrhea:

• Take IMODIUM™ straight after your first bout – it can stop diarrhea in just one hour so your body can start to recover sooner
• Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids and/or taking a rehydration treatment
• Avoid fizzy drinks and rich or spicy foods
• As your appetite increases, eat regular meals of simple baked foods

Experts agree that, if you have acute (short term) diarrhea and you’re otherwise healthy, you can self-medicate and use a diarrhea treatment right away, and there’s no advantage to letting diarrhea run its course. Gastroenterologists recommend Loperamide, the active ingredient in IMODIUM™, as the ‘treatment of choice’ for the relief of diarrhea.

If you have longer lasting or persistently recurrent diarrhea, it might indicate an underlying medical condition, so you should talk to your doctor.

You should also see a doctor if:

• Your symptoms last longer than 48 hours
• You develop a fever over 38°C
• You have blood or mucus in your stools

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Many people think diarrhea is a sign that your body is trying to get rid of something, so it’s better to let it ‘flush’ any bacteria or toxins out of the body. But diarrhea is not a defence mechanism. It’s a symptom of disruption to the finely tuned machine that is our digestive system. It’s your immune system that fights infection, so there’s no need to leave diarrhea to run its course. In fact, when left to run its course, diarrhea can cause you to lose essential fluids and salts, leaving you feeling weak and depleted. Early treatment limits this loss so you can start to feel better and your system can recover more quickly.

IMODIUM™ is suitable for children over 12 years of age, but not for younger children. Children with diarrhea can become dehydrated more quickly than adults, so it’s a good idea to use an oral rehydration treatment, which you can find in soluble sachets. Oral rehydration solutions replace lost fluids and salts and help prevent dehydration, but they don’t relieve the symptoms of diarrhea.

Here’s some advice for treating your child’s diarrhea:

• Avoid sweetened fluids like soft drinks, energy drinks, sugar water and undiluted fruit juices. These all contain sugar that draws water into the intestine and can make diarrhea worse.
• Giving your child solid foods, such as bread, cereal, rice, lean meat, yogurt, fruit and vegetables, can help restore essential nutrients needed to fight infection.
• Offer your child yogurts that contain live or active cultures.
• Keep your child’s bottom dry. Use care, tenderness and plenty of nappy cream when changing nappies, since it's easy for your baby’s bottom to become irritated.

If your child’s diarrhea lasts longer than 48 hours, or you’re otherwise concerned about their health, you should consult your doctor.

IMODIUM™ contains no ingredients that might bind content or act as a bung. Instead, IMODIUM™ works to restore the regular movement of your intestinal wall and to resume the natural rhythm of your digestive system, helping your bowel movements return to normal more quickly.

Constipation may be experienced after diarrhea has finished as a result of the bowel being emptied or by eating less during the diarrhea episode. Data from clinical studies on Imodium™ shows that only around 3% of people will experience constipation as a result of taking Imodium™ to treat the symptoms of diarrhea.

Overeating and drinking can upset your digestive system and lead to diarrhea. So always try to eat sensibly and avoid excess.

Here are some everyday eating habits that can upset your digestive system:

• Eating too quickly. It takes 20 minutes for your stomach to tell your brain it’s full, so eating more slowly means you’re likely to eat less and so have less to digest.
• Gulping down food. When you gulp, you swallow air, which can lead to trapped wind and poor digestion.
• Eating big, heavy meals. These take longer to digest and make your system work harder.
• Eating late at night. Your digestive system is at its least efficient at the end of the day, so try to eat your last meal at least 3 hours before bedtime.
• Eating too many fatty or spicy foods or drinking too much alcohol. 

About a third of women experience diarrhea around the time of their period. So, if you’re one of them, rest assured it’s totally normal. Although it’s not fully understood, it’s believed that the hormonal changes taking place during your period are the cause of menstrual-related diarrhea. Hormonal changes during the menopause also cause diarrhea and other digestive health problems.¹²

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Everyone’s different and it can be hard to identify the causes of your frequent diarrhea. For some, it could be what they eat: a trigger food or intolerance. For others, it might be a reaction to stress, anxiety or nervousness, when taking medication or during their period. It’s good to understand your body to help manage your diarrhea accordingly.

Our Manage Your Diarrhea area is full of tips and advice to help you watch out for triggers, improve your digestive health and avoid the next bout of diarrhea.

If you have longer lasting or persistently recurrent diarrhea, it might indicate an underlying medical condition, so you should consult your doctor.