Chronic diarrhea medical therapy

	Chronic diarrhea Microchapters
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Patient Information
Overview
Historical Perspective
Classification
Pathophysiology
Causes
Differentiating Chronic diarrhea from other Diseases
Epidemiology and Demographics
Risk Factors
Screening
Natural History, Complications and Prognosis
Diagnosis
History and Symptoms
Physical Examination
Laboratory Findings
Electrocardiogram
Chest X Ray
CT
MRI
Ultrasound
Other Imaging Findings
Other Diagnostic Studies
Treatment
Medical Therapy
Surgery
Primary Prevention
Secondary Prevention
Cost-Effectiveness of Therapy
Future or Investigational Therapies
Case Studies
Case #1

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Omodamola Aje B.Sc, M.D. [2]

Overview

Antidiarrheal drugs can be broadly defined as agents that minimize the symptoms of diarrhea by improving stool consistency, reducing stool frequency, or reducing stool weight. Chronic diarrhea is a common symptom of many conditions. In order to appropriately treat chronic diarrhea, the underlying causes must be identified and treated and, in most cases, the chronic diarrhea will resolve.^[1]

Medical Therapy

For the treatment of the most common causes of chronic diarrhea, please click below:

Inflammatory diarrhea

Watery diarrhea

Fatty diarrhea

Below are some of the drugs that can be used in the symptomatic treatment of chronic diarrhea and their mechanisms of action. Some drugs have numerous mechanisms of action and can thus be found under more than one section. It is important to know that these drugs are used for the symptomatic treatment of chronic diarrhea. In order to appropriately treat chronic diarrhea, the underlying cause of the disease must be identified.^[1]

Inhibitors of intestinal transit time