| When are antidiarrheals indicated? They should be | | | | effectiveness. |
| taken only upon the advice of a doctor. He or she | | | | "Strictly speaking, attapulgite is not even a generic |
| should evaluate the cause of persistent or chronic | | | | name - Martindale's Extra Pharmacopoeia |
| diarrhea which may be brought about by a serious | | | | defines attapulgite as a ‘hydrated magnesium |
| underlying disorder. | | | | aluminum silicate. It also contains traces of calcium and |
| Over-the-counter (OTC) products may be tried for | | | | iron.’ Its properties are similar to light kaolin, |
| relief but they should not be used for more than two | | | | working mainly as an adsorbent," |
| days nor should they be given to young children. | | | | according to The Drug Monitor, a publication of |
| "If an attack of diarrhea does not subside in a | | | | the Health Action Information Network. |
| day or if diarrhea is accompanied at any time by | | | | In theory, adsorbents clean the gut by attaching |
| fever, severe abdominal pain, or bloody stools, | | | | themselves to toxins, but the World Health |
| self-medication is not advisable, and the patient should | | | | Organization (WHO) said their efficacy has never |
| consult a physician. In any case, a person suffering | | | | been proven. |
| from diarrhea should drink plenty of liquids to | | | | Other adsorbents like kaolin and pectin, while safe, are |
| offset loss of fluids in the watery stools. Decreasing | | | | also ineffective in the treatment of diarrhea. They do |
| the amount of roughage (or bulk producers) in | | | | make the stools firmer but WHO has discouraged their |
| the diet - for example, cutting out most raw fruits and | | | | use for acute diarrhea. |
| raw vegetables - plus the time-honored reliance on rice | | | | "Adsorbents have no demonstrated effect |
| and bananas, may reduce the severity of the | | | | on either duration or severity of diarrhea. While not |
| attack," said Consumers Union's medical | | | | apparently harmful, they detract from more important |
| consultants in “The Medicine Show.” | | | | therapy and should be avoided," said J.B. Rhode |
| Popular OTC medications for diarrhea include | | | | in “Selective Primary Health Care: Strategies for |
| attapulgite and kaolin and pectin. Both are | | | | Control of Disease in the Developing |
| questionable ingredients. | | | | World” published in Reviews of Infectious |
| Attapulgite supposedly works by reducing the number | | | | Diseases. (Next: Are prescription drugs for diarrhea |
| of bowel movements but medical authorities doubt its | | | | safe? |