List of 20 Best Medicines for Diarrhea – Composition, Dosage, Popularity & More

January 7, 2019

Diarrhea is one of the most common health complaints. It can range from a mild, temporary condition, to a potentially life-threatening one.

Globally, an estimated 2 billion cases of diarrheal disease occur each year, and 1.9 million children under the age of 5 years, mostly in developing countries, die from diarrhea.

Diarrhea is characterized by abnormally loose or watery stools.

Some people frequently pass stools, but they are of normal consistency. This is not diarrhea. Similarly, breastfed babies often pass loose, pasty stools. This is normal. It is not diarrhea.

Causes – Most cases of diarrhea are caused by bacteria, viruses, or parasites

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis can cause chronic diarrhea.

When diarrhea strikes, you want relief fast. And with good reason. Treatment helps you feel better and keeps you from getting dehydrated and losing too many nutrients. You may run to the pharmacy for an over-the-counter medicine or call your doctor and ask for advice. If you get diarrhea often, you probably already have a go-to treatment in your medicine cabinet.

Many people get a short-term bout of diarrhea — meaning loose, watery stools three or more times a day — about once a year. For many of them, taking over-the-counter medicines or simply waiting it out (and staying hydrated) is usually all they need to feel better.

You can buy several types of diarrhea drugs without a prescription: bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol, Kaopectate) and loperamide (Imodium). These medicines can help slow or stop loose, watery stools. But you shouldn’t take them for very long.

List of Top 20 Medicines for Diarrhea

Loperamide
Lomotil
Florastor
Bismuth
Opium
Codeine
Alosetron
Rifaximin
Crofelemer
Neomycin
Bifilac
Bifillin
Acigut
Enterogermina
Racecadotril
Octreotide
Cotrimoxazole
Ciprofloxacin
Equalyte
Electrobion

Top 20 Medicines for Diarrhea in India (Tablets, Syrups & More)

1. Loperamide: Cures diarrhea

Brand name – Diamode, Imodium, Imotil
Composition – Loperamide
Popularity level – 9
Loperamide is an antidiarrheal medicine. It reduces secretion in the intestines by acting on specific opioid receptors.
Dosage – 2 tablets per day, once in the morning and once in the evening.
Consumption of alcohol is contraindicated during use of this medicine.
Price – The price range for Imodium 2 mg is $0.34 – $1.50 per pill or unit.

2. Lomotil: Cures severe diarrhea and disease associated diarrhea

Brand name – Lomocot, Lonox
Composition – Atropine, and Diphenoxylate
Popularity level – 9.5
Atropine is an anticholinergic drug, thus it decreases bowel motility and secretion. Diphenoxylate is an antimotility drug, thus it reduces peristaltic movement in the intestines.
Dosage – One tablet per day, preferably half an hour after a meal.
Consumption of alcohol is contraindicated during use of this medicine.
Use of this medicine is contraindicated in children below 12 years of age.
Price – The cost for atropine/diphenoxylate oral liquid (0.025 mg-2.5 mg/5 mL) is around $67 for a supply of 60 milliliters.

3. Florastor: Reestablishes gut flora

Brand name – Florastor
Composition – Saccharomyces boulardii
Popularity level – 8
Florastor is a probiotic that contains healthy bacteria which reestablishes gut flora and thus controls diarrhea.
Dosage – Two capsules per day, preferably half an hour before the meal.
Price – A pack of 20 capsules cost ₹1925.

4. Bismuth: Prevents excessive loss of water during diarrhea

Brand name – Kaopectate, Pepto-Bismol
Composition – Bismuth subsalicylate
Popularity level – 7
Bismuth is an antidiarrhoeal drug that acts by decreasing PG synthesis in the intestinal mucosa due to which chloride secretion and loss of water from the intestines decreases.
Dosage – It is taken as a suspension, 60 ml every 6 hours.
Price – Kaopectate costs $14.00 per pill or unit.

5. Opium: Decreases stool frequency

Brand name – Paregoric
Composition – Opium
Popularity level – 2
Opium is a narcotic analgesic which also decreases gut motility, thereby decreases stool frequency in diarrhea patients.
Dosage – One tablet per day, preferably before bed.
Consumption of alcohol is contraindicated during use of this medicine.
This medicine should be taken under medical prescription only.
Price – The cost for Paregoric oral liquid (2 mg/5 mL) is around $2,945 for a supply of 5760 milliliters.

6. Codeine: Decreases stool frequency

Brand name – Acicod 10mg
Composition – Codeine phosphate 30 mg
Popularity level – 3
Codeine is a narcotic analgesic drug which decreases gut motility.
Dosage – One tablet per day, preferably before bed.
Consumption of alcohol is contraindicated during use of this medicine.
This medicine should be taken under medical prescription only.
This medicine should be used for short term treatment of severe diarrhea because it is a habit-forming drug.
Price – A pack of 10 tablets cost ₹20.

7. Alosetron: Cures severe diarrhea

Brand name – Lotronex
Composition – Alosetron
Popularity level – 3
Alosetron acts as a serotoninergic neuroenteric modulator. It is used for the treatment of severe diarrhoea.
Dosage – One tablet per day with or without a meal.
Price – The cost for Lotronex oral tablet 0.5 mg is around $1,069 for a supply of 30 tablets.

8. Rifaximin: Cures bacterial infection

Brand name – Xifaxan
Composition – Rifaximin
Popularity level – 6
Rifaximin is an antibiotic drug which is used for the treatment of diarrhea associated with bacterial infection such as Traveller’s diarrhea.
Dosage – One tablet twice daily, for 15 days.
Price – The cost for Xifaxan oral tablet 200 mg is around $610 for a supply of 30 tablets.

9. Crofelemer: Cures diarrhea

Brand name – Fulyzaq
Composition – Crofelemer
Popularity level – 2
This is an antidiarrhoeal drug that acts by decreasing gut motility.
Dosage – One tablet twice daily or as prescribed by a doctor.
Price – The cost for Fulyzaq oral delayed release tablet 125 mg is around $628 for a supply of 60 tablets.

10. Neomycin: Cures bacterial infection

Brand name – Neotab, Neo-Fradin
Composition – Neomycin
Popularity level – 5
Neomycin is an aminoglycoside antibiotic drug. It is used for the treatment of diarrhea associated with bacterial infection.
Dosage – One tablet twice daily for 5 days
Price – The cost for neomycin oral tablet 500 mg is around $104 for a supply of 100 tablets.

11. Bifilac: Reestablishes gut flora

Brand name – Bifilac
Composition – Lactobacillus sp., Streptococcus sp., Clostridium butyricum, Bacillus mesenteric
Popularity level – 8
Bifilac is a probiotic which reestablishes gut flora and thus helps to control diarrhea.
Dosage – One capsule, twice daily to be taken on an empty stomach or half an hour before the meal.
Price – A pack of 10 capsules costs ₹100.

12. Bifillin: Reestablishes gut flora

Brand name – Bifillin
Composition – Lactobacillus sp., Bifidobacterium bifidum, Streptococcus thermophiles, Saccharomyces boulardii
Popularity level – 6
Bifillin is a probiotic which reestablishes gut flora and thus helps to control diarrhoea.
Dosage – One capsule, twice daily to be taken on an empty stomach or half an hour before a meal.
Price – A pack of 10 capsules cost ₹60.

13. Acigut: Reestablishes gut flora

Brand name – Acigut
Composition – Lactobacillus sp. and Bifidobacterium sp.
Popularity level – 6
Acigut is a probiotic which reestablishes gut flora and thus helps to control diarrhoea.
Dosage – One capsule, twice daily to be taken on an empty stomach or half an hour before a meal.
Price – A pack of 10 capsules costs ₹100.

14. Enterogermina: Reestablishes gut flora

Brand name – Enterogermina
Composition – Bacillus clausii
Popularity level – 7
Enterogermina is a probiotic which reestablishes gut flora and thus helps to control diarrhea. It is used for the treatment of severe cases of diarrhea and IBS.
Dosage – One capsule, twice daily to be taken on an empty stomach or half an hour before the meal.
Price – A pack of 4 capsules costs ₹140.

15. Racecadotril: Cures acute diarrhea

Brand name – Cadotril, Racigyl, Redotil, Zedott
Composition – Racecadotril
Popularity level – 5
Racecadotril is an oral enkephalinase inhibitor for use in the treatment of acute diarrhea. By preventing the degradation of endogenous enkephalins, racecadotril reduces hypersecretion of water and electrolytes into the intestinal lumen.
Dosage – As per doctor’s prescription
Price – A pack of 10 capsules of Cadotril cost ₹150.

16. Octreotide: Cure’s diarrhea in cancer and AIDS patients

Brand name – Sandostatin
Composition – Octreotide acetate
Popularity level – 4
Octreotide is a synthetic analog of somatostatin. It regulates the release of many gastrointestinal hormones such as a vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, gastrin, insulin, glucagon, secretin, motilin, and pancreatic polypeptide. This results in increases in gastrointestinal absorption of intestinal fluids and electrolytes and decreases in smooth muscle contractility and small bowel motility. It is used for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced diarrhoea in cancer patients and for treating refractory diarrhoea in AIDS patients.
Dosage – As per doctor’s prescription. This medicine is given in the form of s.c. injection only.
Price – The cost for Sandostatin LAR Depot intramuscular powder for injection, extended release 10 mg is around $2,964 for supply of 1 powder for injections.

17. Cotrimoxazole: Cures bacterial infection

Brand name – Bactrim
Composition – Trimethoprim and Sulfamethoxazole
Popularity level – 5
It is used to treat Travelers’ diarrhea and EPEC. Co-trimoxazole is a combination of trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole and is in a class of medications called sulfonamides. It works by stopping the growth of bacteria.
Dosage – One tablet per day, half an hour before a meal.
Price – The cost for Bactrim oral tablet (400 mg-80 mg) is around $159 for a supply of 100 tablets.

18. Ciprofloxacin: Cures bacterial infection

Brand name – Cipro 250mg
Composition – Ciprofloxacin
Popularity level – 5
Ciprofloxacin is an antibiotic drug recommended if the diarrhea is frequent or accompanied by cramps or nausea. It is used for the treatment of diarrhoea due to Shigella enteritis and for treating Travellers’ diarrhoea.
Dosage – Take one Cipro pill every 12 hours. If diarrhea continues, repeat the Cipro. You may repeat Cipro every 12 hours until the symptoms subside.
Price – A pack of 60 tablets costs $94.

19. Equalyte: Cures dehydration

Brand name – Pedialyte, Equalyte
Composition – Electrolytes and Dextrose
Popularity level – 8
It is used to replace fluids and minerals (e.g., sodium, potassium) lost due to diarrhea and vomiting. It helps to prevent or treat the loss of too much body water (dehydration).
If you are using the liquid form, do not mix it with water or other liquids. If your liquid form is a suspension, shake the bottle well before each dose. If you are using the powdered form, mix the contents of the packet in 4 ounces (120 milliliters) or 8 ounces (240 milliliters) of water as directed on the product package. Stir until completely dissolved.
Price – A bottle of 200ml of Pedialyte costs ₹35.

20. Electrobion: Cures dehydration

Brand name – Electrobion
Composition – Potassium chloride 1.5 GM+Sodium chloride 2.6 GM+Sodium citrate 2.9 GM
Popularity level – 7
The Electrobion is a WHO-based ORS Sachet (Oral Rehydration Salt) used to treat water and fluid loss in the body due to diarrhea.
Price – A 4.2g sachet of Electrobion costs ₹3.65