Antidiarrhoeal

Overview
An antidiarrhoeal drug is any medication which provides symptomatic relief for diarrhoea.

Types

 * Electrolyte solutions are used to replace lost fluids and salts in acute cases.
 * Bulking agents like methylcellulose, guar gum or plant fibre (bran, sterculia, ispaghul, etc.) are used for diarrhoea in functional bowel disease and to control ileostomy output.
 * Absorbents absorb toxic substances that cause infective diarrhoea, methylcellulose is an absorbent as well.
 * Opiates slow intestinal transit, but Loperamide is most commonly used, since it doesn't have the usual narcotic side effects.